Education: In France

The history text-book generally used in French primary schools hitherto stated that Joan of Arc was condemned by a tribunal composed of ecclesiastical judges of the Church of France. Lately the bishops took offense. The new edition of the text-book states that the tribunal was composed of Englishmen. This is the example of history as an inexact science which a bold rural teacher at the Congress of Instituteurs took to drive home his plea that absolutely no history should be taught to young children. History, says M. Clémendot, the rural teacher, is an inexact science to begin with; its imperfection increases with the efforts made to condense it in the few pages of a primary textbook. It is a science not for children but for adults—for men whose experience of life enables them to understand, at least dimly, the historical facts. Furthermore, the present purpose of history-teaching, to inculcate patriotism, ofttimes defeats itself by arousing a false hatred of foreigners, resulting in wars. M. Clémendot proposes to eliminate political history and to substitute for it the reading of historical anecdote and books of general information on the life of peoples. He is now the center of abusive controversy. The answer of the authoritarians to his proposal is: "Outrageous! History has always been taught in the primary schools of France." He and his proposal will be seriously discussed at next year's Congress.