oral examinations are passed before a board of officers and professors. A composition is part of the examination demanded, and questions upon the methods of teaching are also given. Medals of silver and bronze are given to the three first of each "course." The course of study laid down is as follows: Grammar, exercises in composition, &c. The recitations of each day begin by the delivery of some lines chosen from good authors, upon which questions are asked. Arithmetic, through decimals, rule of three, square and cube root, calculation of interest, accounts. French history to the end of the second empire. Geography, including the drawing of maps; especial attention being given to France; its civil and military and naval departments; its coasts and frontiers; harbors and military posts. There is one branch styled conférences pédagogiques, which consists in a series of lectures, with questions and answers on religious sentiment, respect due superiors, will, exactness, manner of study, politeness, bearing, conversation, letter writing, different modes of teaching, physical, moral and religious education, organization of primary schools, preparation of lessons, duties, discipline. These are the men who have the teaching to do in all the elementary schools of the service whether afloat or ashore. The schools of the divisions are placed under a specially detailed officer. Each recruit as he arrives is examined as to his attainments, and is placed in one of the two school classes. All who can merely read or write or can do neither are classed as "illiterate," and are placed in the "course of the first degree." This course comprises reading, writing, and the four simple rules of arithmetic. The "course of the second degree" comprises, in addition to the other, the elements of grammar, history, geography, and arithmetic. The instruction of the first degree is obligatory for every quartier-maître, seaman, apprentice, and boy, with the exception of men who are over thirty years of age; that of the second degree is obligatory for all novices and boys; it may be taken by the others if they so desire. These same rules hold good for the schools of divisions and for men-of-war in service. The instructors in the divisions of the first class (those of Brest and Toulon) are assisted by eight monitors; in the others, by six. These monitors are chosen from among the men of the division who are capable of teaching. Monitors are likewise selected on board ship according to the number of the crew, there being one for about every fifty of the crew. School is held daily in the divisions, excepting on Sundays and fête days, for at least two hours. On board ship it is held at least three days a week from 3 to 5 p. m., or, if these hours are inconvenient, others may be selected, so long as a minimum of six hours' study a week is attained. No exercise is allowed on board while school is holding. A monthly report is sent in by the schoolmaster showing the zeal and progress of his pupils and the status of the school in general. A series of readers, a spelling-book, history, grammar, arithmetic, and geography are published for the use of those under instruction in the divisions and in the fleet. These books are furnished the men free of cost, though in case of loss through carelessness they must be replaced by loser. Under the present system, in the course of a few years no men will be found in the French Navy unable to read and write. The system of elementary instruction, both afloat and ashore, is evidently rigidly carried out; the returns which the ministry require to be made being such that there can be no avoidance on the part of commanding officers of their duty in this regard. Practically the whole French service is on the footing of an elementary public school in America, with an ample supply of schoolmasters, fixed hours, and an established series of textbooks and course of study: the results of the system cannot fail to be most admirable. LIBRARIES. In each division, under the title of the "Commission de la bibliothèque de la division," there is a permanent consulting board, composed of the commandant of the division, commissary, major of the division (usually a capitaine de frégate), staff surgeon, adjutant in charge of schools. This commission has charge of the library, of the accounts, &c.; and the sur veillance in general. It sends also to the authorities of the ministry of marine any suggestions relating to the possible increased usefulness of the library. At the ministry there is likewise a commission, having general charge of all the libraries of the service. The librarian is appointed from amongst the retired warrant officers of the service. He is allowed, in addition to his half pay, 400 francs a year. He is pecuniarily responsible for all losses resulting from negligence. The room set apart for the library is large and conveniently placed, and is well lighted and warmed; the tables are covered with green serge; chairs are furnished, and all the small conveniences for the disposal of caps, overcoats, &c., are supplied. The hours during which the library must be open are established by the préfet maritime of the department. All men of the fleet, whether of the division or afloat, are allowed entry. Organized in 1873, these libraries are rapidly increasing in the number of volumes supplied, and must be of incalculable benefit to the men who use them. There are in the barracks of the five divisions alone an average at all times of 8,000 men awaiting disposal, and, besides these, there is always a large number of persons serving on board ship, on leave, &c., to whom the library is free. CHAPTER IX. THE COST OF THE FRENCH TRAINING SYSTEM. The low rate of pay in the French service, and the economical administration of the schools spoken of, might cause us to regard their system as economical. I should regard it, however, as otherwise. The boys of the Établissement des pupilles are retained in some cases from 7 to 13; in most cases, from 9 to 13. All those on board the Austerlitz are retained at least two years; nearly twice the length of time of those in the English schools. The various schools spoken of (with the exception of those of gunnery and gymnastics) have in them the numbers as follows: The boys of the Établissement des pupilles receive no pay. The clothing of the boys of the Austerlitz and of the pupilles costs yearly 99,800 francs. That of the men (of the entire service, excluding these boys first spoken of), 3,255,552 francs. Without rations, repairs to ships, or pay of crews and men necessarily used on board the training-ships, the yearly expense is 778,377 francs for the pupilles and the boys, not over four hundred of whom are supplied yearly to the navy under the present organization. THE PRESENT STATE OF EDUCATION IN THE FRENCH SERVICE. The latest report on this subject is dated 1878, but gives the results only of 1877. These were as follows (of the quartiers-maîtres and other men less than thirty years of age): Men absolutely ignorant.... Men knowing how to read and write a little.. Men knowing how to read and write, but not calculate.. Men having the elementary instruction of the first degree.. Per cent. 20 24 34 20 2 This shows, however, a great advance on the state of instruction in 1872, and now (1879) it is still better, the men received being generally much better instructed in the public schools than formerly before entering the service. There has been of late years a great advance in the education of the public in France, and the republic is making endeavors in that direction which were never attempted by the empire. In closing the subject of training in France, I must express my high admiration for the state of efficiency to which their various schools have evidently been brought. There is throughout the French service an aim to raise their men to the best possible condition. That this has been largely successful is shown in the admirable quality of their petty officers and other leading rates. The necessity of so training these men is clearly felt by the officers of the French Navy in general; without this widespread feeling much of the instruction given in training schools, however perfect, must go for naught. |