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The course of study at Lierre, occupying three years, embraces the following subjects, viz: religion and morals; sacred and church history; reading, writing, and book-keeping; grammar and composition; geography and history, especially of Belgium; arithmetic, and its business applications; elements of theoretical geometry, and of mapping, land measuring, and leveling; elementary algebra; portions of the natural sciences applicable to every-day life; agriculture and horticulture, graft ing and pruning; theory of education, pedagogy and methodology; hygiene, as applicable to children and schools; elements of constitutional law; knowledge of the constitution and laws of Belgium, and of the most usual forms under them, church and school laws; singing and plain chant, playing the organ, harmony and accompaniment; drawing, linear, ornamenal, and architectural. During the third year of the course, the pupils are required to teach the different classes in the schools of application or practice annexed to the normal schools, under the direction of the professors of pedagogy and methodology.

The instructors are a director and sub-director, who are ecclesiastics, nine professors, an adjunct professor, and a gardener-demonstrator; the full complement of pupils being 150.

The pupils board and lodge within the institution, and the entire apportionment of their time, occupations, and recreations, is under the control of the school authorities. The whole establishment is under the hygienie supervision of a physician, who directs any measures necessary for the health of the inmates.

There is a library of educational works, which receives a copy of every work published by government, or by its assistance, and some philosophical and chemical apparatus, maps, and models for drawing.

The entire expense of the school at Lierre, for 1848, was $6,943.22, of which $5,395.33 was paid for salaries.

There is an examination at graduation, according to the result of which three grades of diplomas are given. At present (1848) all the graduates of the normal schools are employed in teaching. The government continues the bounty above mentioned, for three years after graduation, to such recipients of it as do not find their salaries, as public teachers, sufficient for their support.

FEMALE NORMAL EDUCATION.

There are fifteen religious establishments and boarding-schools for females designated by government, to a certain number of pupils in which a bounty is paid similar to that given to male normal pupils. These institutions are under government inspection, and the beneficiaries in them are employed as public teachers after their graduation. The course of study is substantially similar to that of the normal schools for males, some studies, as geometry, agriculture, horticulture, and constitutional law, being omitted, and needlework and the application of drawing to the cutting and fitting of dresses being added.

ORGANIZATION AND RESULTS IN 1868.

I. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES.

In Belgium there is no separate Ministry of Public Instruction, all which appertains to such department elsewhere being assigned to the Minister of the Interior, with a separate bureau. The chief executive officer in the several provinces is the governor, to whom the local school authorities must report. The superintendence of primary instruction is in the hands of the communal authorities and special inspectors. The normal and higher primary schools are under special officers, and the fernale primary schools under a female inspector. In every province there is a provincial inspector appointed by the king, whose duty it is to visit all the schools of his province at least once a year. Immediately under him are the district inspectors, who are appointed for three years. They must visit every school in their district at least twice a year. The provincial inspectors are appointed by the Government and receive a salary of 4,500 francs and 1,000 francs for office and traveling expenses. The district inspectors (64 at present) receive no fixed salary, but an allowance, not to exceed 500 francs, out of the provincial treasury. The inspector of the normal schools receives 5,500 francs salary and 500 for office and traveling expenses. The female inspector of the normal schools for girls receives 2,200 francs.

Besides these persons, authorized by the State to visit the schools, the clergy ex-officio have the right to visit the primary schools at any time. The bishops and consistories must submit every year a report of their inspection to the Minister, and give an account of the state of moral and religious instruction. There are clerical cantonal inspectors and clerical diocesan inspectors; the former, numbering 142, receive since 1863 the sum of 3,300 francs, and the latter each 3,000. In the Protestant and Jewish schools a delegate of the consistory superintends the religious instruction. The provincial inspectors assemble annually in conference under the presidency of the Minister of the Interior, on matters relating to the schools; amongst other things, the text-books to be used, which the government does not prescribe, but publishes annually a list, from which each teacher can make his selection. In 1864 this list embraced 473 works.

The superintendence of secondary instruction belongs to a general inspector and two special inspectors, one for the humanistic and the other for the realistic studies. The special inspectors reside at Brussels, and meet in conference, visit the Atheneums at least once a year, and one must visit each of the other institutions, at such time as the Minister may fix. A report of each visit must be made to the Minister, and the general inspector must make a report concerning all appointments, promotions, &c. They are appointed by the king, and receive a salary of 6,000 and 5,000 francs, and 12 francs traveling expenses per day. The new law (1850) provides a council of secondary studies (conseil de perfec

tionnement), which consists of at least eight and not more than ten members. Besides the regular members, the president of the educational bureau in the Ministry of the Interior, the general inspector, and four persons chosen by the Minister from the prefects, and professors of the Atheneums, constitute advisory members. There is also a council of superior studies (conseil de perfectionnement de l'enseignement supérieur), which consists of eight professors of the State Universities (one from each faculty), the two rectors, inspectors, and some private individuals, who receive a per diem allowance (12 francs a day) and their mileage. The Minister presides at its sessions.

II. PRIMARY INSTRUCTION.

There are four different kinds of primary schools, viz.: 1, communal schools, maintained by the communes; 2, private subsidized schoolsschools founded by private individuals, but subsidized by government, and under government inspection; 3, private schools not subsidized by government, and not under government inspection; 4, superior primary schools or courses, organized by the communes and subsidized by the State. To these should be added courses for adults, which are separate from the primary schools, but to a certain degree supplement their instruction.

The course of instruction in the primary schools embraces: Religion, morals, reading, writing, arithmetic, the mother tongue, (French, Flemish, or German, according to the different locality,) which are obligatory. The following are optional: Drawing, elements of natural sciences, music and gymnastics, elements of history and geography, and in girls' schools also needlework.

In the communal schools the teacher is elected by the council from among such candidates as hold a legal certificate. Every vacancy must be filled within forty days; if within that time the council has not made a choice, a teacher is appointed by government. The council may suspend a teacher for three months, but subject to the final action of the govern

ment.

Professional Training of Teachers.

For the education of primary school-teachers there are two State Normal Schools, one at Lierre for the Flemish, and one at Nivelles for the Wallonic provinces. The number of pupils to be admitted annually is fixed by the minister. The candidates must be at least sixteen and not over twenty-two years of age, and must undergo an examination in the following subjects: Religion, Bible history, reading, writing, Flemish or French grammar, arithmetic, general geography, geography of Belgium, history of Belgium, and vocal music. The examination is oral and written; it is held by an examining jury composed of the director of the Normal School and the provincial inspector. The pupils are boarded and lodged at the school, and have only to provide the necessary textbooks, &c. Stipends of at most 200 francs are granted to pupils, partly

by the State, partly by the different provinces, on the condition to serve the government for five years; or refund, in case of non-compliance.

The course of instruction lasts three years and embraces the following subjects: First Year-Bible history, French, Flemish, penmanship, mathematics; arithmetic applied to practical purposes and elements of algebra; history; elements of mathematical and physical geography and ethnography; political geography of Europe; elements of natural sciences applied to practical purposes; chemistry, music, linear drawing, horticulture, book-keeping, gymnastics. Second Year-Sacred history, continued ; French and Flemish; penmanship; planimetry, surveying, &c.; history of Belgium till the supremacy of the house of Burgundy; political geography of Asia, Africa, America, and Australia; mineralogy and botany, music, linear drawing, horticulture, book-keeping, pedagogics, gymnastics. Third Year-French and Flemish; arithmetic and algebra as far as equations of the second degree; continuation of Belgian history; geography of Europe; geography of Belgium in detail; zoology, hygiene, music pedagogics on Beneke's principles, constitution and system of primary instruction in Belgium. The following is the distribution of studies:

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In connection with every Normal School there is a school of practice (école d'application), under the superintendence of the professor of pedagogics. At the end of every half year, the students are examined on all the subjects taught during the half year, before a jury composed of the inspector, the director, and one teacher of the Normal School, two teachers of other schools, and the ecclesiastical superintendent of primary instruction. At the end of the third year, candidates must pass another examination before a jury composed of six members, viz., the inspector of secondary schools, chairman, the director and two professors of the Normal School, and two professors from other schools. The examination is in three divisions, viz., oral, written, and practical, and comprises all subjects taught at the Normal School. Marks are given for each subject, and the sum determines the position the candidate holds. Certificates of three kinds are given; in order to receive a certificate of the first class at least 550 marks are required; for one of the second class, 500; one of the third class, 400.

Besides the regular Normal Schools, there are Normal sections in connection with several Middle Schools (so called), with a three years' course. Some private schools also prepare teachers for the elementary schools.

There are no public schools for the education of female teachers, but the Minister has authorized one or more private schools in every province, where female candidates can receive their education, with a similar course as those of the male candidates.

Salaries.

The compensation of teachers consists of the following items: a fixed salary of at least 200 francs; remuneration for instruction given to poor children (paid by the communes); a house or its equivalent in money. Salaries are classified as follows: (1) In schools with more than 100 scholars, the teacher receives a maximum salary of 800 francs; (2) in schools with 60 scholars, a maximum salary of 700 francs; (3) in schools with less than 60 scholars, 600 francs. In 1863 a law was passed fixing the minimum salary at 850 francs for schools of the third class, at 950 francs for schools of the second class, and 1,050 francs for schools of the first class.

The school-fee is fixed by the communal authorities. Poor children receive free instruction. To this are entitled, children of persons supported by the public charities, day-laborers, &c. The communal counci! every year determines who is to have free instruction, as also the amount of school-fee which the teacher is to receive from the communal funds. At the beginning of every quarter the teacher must report to the burgomaster the names of all the poor children who have attended school, the length of time which they attended, and the sum to be paid to the teacher. Eight days from the time this report has been handed in, this statement must be verified and the money paid to the teacher. All sums applicable to primary instruction form a special fund, which can not be used for other purposes. The expenses of primary instruction are borne exclusively by the communes; except in extreme cases, they receive a subsidy from the provincial or State authorities.

Pensions and Savings Banks.

In the capital of every province there are savings banks (caisses de prévoyance), under the management of special commissioners, intended to secure a timely help for poor teachers and give pensions to teachers' widows and orphans. Every teacher is obliged annually to pay a certain fixed amount into this fund. For teachers in the cities there is a central fund in Brussels. The contributions of teachers towards these funds vary from 3 to 4 per cent. of their salary. The provinces, the State, and private individuals also contribute considerable sums every year. The pensions are for life-time, or for a limited period. Every teacher who is sixty years old and has served thirty years is entitled to a life-pension, as well as those whose health, after twelve years' service, is so impaired that they can no longer keep school. The full pension of teachers is paid to their widows, and to their orphans till the latter have reached their sixteenth year, except in cases where the marriage has taken place after the pension was granted.

To the central fund at Brussels the teachers at the communal écoles

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