E.—l2.

REPORT UPON STATE EDUCATION.

Teachers. Every teacher lias a right to a pension after twenty-five years' service.l It is calculated at the rate of one-half of the highest salary earned during the last six years of office. Towards the pension fund deductions are made from salaries. 3 Gratuities are given, INSPECTION. 3 The inspection is excellent, although there is no very special feature, except that of lady Inspectors for infant schools. All Inspectors —chief, departmental ("Inspectcurs d'Acadunic" under the supervision of the chief Inspectors), and primary {" Inspecteurs primaircs " under the order of the departmental Inspectors)—arc nominated by the Minister; and " are recruited from amongst the masters of elementary schools." In each Department there is a departmental Inspector, and as many primary ones as there are divisions, or ridings ("arrondissements"). The Inspectors relatively to the teachci'3 are well paid. 4 For instance, it is reported that " there are Inspectors in Paris who, with one thing or another, are getting about 9,000 francs ." J " The National Educational Association of France ('Ligue francaise de l'ensignement'), which held its fourth annual Congress at Tours, April 15-18, 188-1, agreed that regular medical inspection should be made in every school to avoid epidemic or contagious diseases and injury to eyesight." 6 SCHOLARSHIPS. The following memorandum has been considerately furniscd to me from the Ministry of Public Instruction :— " Bourses. " LVllltat entretient des boursiers dans Penseignement primaire superieur, dans les lycees ct colleges, et dans les Facultes. " Le nombre des bourses attributes aux ecoles primaires superieures s'cleve au lr emars, 1881, a 1,407; divisees ainsi: garcons, 1,061 ; fillcs, 346. " Les bourses d'enseignement primaire superieur sont donnees au concours. II suffit d'avoir 12 ans et lc certificat d'etudes elementaires pour etre admis a ce concours. " Les bourses sont de 500 francs pour l'internat complct. "11 y a ainsi des bourses familiales, e'est ;\ dire pour entretenir les enfants dans uue famille a defaut d'ecole ou de pensionnat. " Le credit affecte a cettc depense est de 774,000 francs pour l'annee, 1884. " Dans les lycees et colleges, l'Etat entretient 4,500 boursiers (chiffrc rond) ; le credit y affecte est de 2,600,000 francs pour 1884. " Dans les Facultes, il existe 315 boursiers de licence, 213 boursiers d'agregation, et 48 boursiers pour la medeciue et la pharmacie. Pour couvrir cet depense une sommc dc 720,000 francs est inscrite au budget de 1884." The comparative smallness of the amounts, especially of those available for superior primary schools, is noticeable.' Last year (1885) a law was passed "providing for education (after examination) for one child in every family which numbered more than six."s

Pensions and gra ui les.

Inspection.

Scholarships.

1 See also E.E.0., Mr. M. Arnold, espec. 5124-5127 and 555'J. » See also Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886), rep., p. 21. 3 Note also opinions of Mr. M. Arnold and Dr. Philbrick --D. Philbrick, p. 56 ; and R.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, cspec. 5090-5097. Observe selection made, some from same class as in England, many more from schoolmaster class, 5094, 5567 and seq. Inspection less mechanical in Fiance than in England, 5095. For duties, E.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 5089 and 5279. * See also E.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 5280. 5 8.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 5280 and seq. ; hut see 5294. 6 Amer. Commr. Rep., 1885, for 1883-84, p. ccix. ; and note notice of " Ligue," E.E.C., Mr. M. Arnold, 5609. ' For further details, see— {a) L. and R., p. 10.

(6) Knseignemcnt primaire suporicur, lois et reglernents et statistique, pp. 27, 28, and 29-39. (c) M. Dumont, vol. 15, 1.E.C., p. 259. id) 1.E.C., vol. 15., pp. 146 and 173. (e) R.0., Ist rep., pp. 9-12, and Appendix No. 1. (/) B.E. rep., p. 441, and compare with N.Z. 1877 Act, ss. 51-53. " Up to March of this year, 189 of these scholarships have heen awarded to hoys, and twenty-four to girls. It is instructive to note that only two of the boys, and none of the girls, came from Paris. So far the results of the law are interesting only as an indication of the existing size of French families. It will be stiil more interesting, in a few years' time, to sec whether the French succeed in increasing their population by Act of Parliament." — P.M. Budget, 11 March, 1886, p. 2. For further comments on this curious law see " Not at Home," " N.C.," Oct., 1880, p. 561.

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