Education in France

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 22, 1879

Education in France.

ALL France is deeply stirred by the prospect of a revolution in the system of public education, which must follow the adoption of the bill of M. Ferry, now before the legislature. The Chambers have adjourned the Lower House until the 15th of May, and for the present the excitement has subsided. Episcopal protests have fallen on the head of the Minister of Education in a continuous shower; even moderate republicans condemn the reactionary features of the new measure. The radicals contend that the Roman Catholic Church is hostile to the republic, and should therefore be deprived, as far as practicable, of all control of education. The moderates answer that the Church party has been fairly defeated, and has no immediate prospect of returning to power. The principal changes contemplated are: 1. The restoration to the state of the exclusive right of conferring university degrees. This reverses the legislation of 1875, out of which sprang the five free Catholic universities. It must be borne in mind that in France a university degree opens the way to public office. 2. The exclusion of all clergymen—Protestant and Catholic—from the directing councils of the state universities, including the Chief Council of Public Instruction. 3. The exclusion from all teaching, public or private, of the religious orders not recognized by the state. This provision will especially affect the Jesuits, whose colleges are somehow popular in France. The bill of M. Ferry may be modified, but in most of its features will undoubtedly be accepted by the Assembly.—Harper’s Weekly.