Germany. The percentage of illiterates in the recruits of the German army and navy is steadily declining. Prussia had 2.33 per cent. in 1880-'81; Bavaria, 0.29 per cent.; Saxony, o.17 per cent.; Würtemberg, 0.02 per cent.; the rest of the empire, 0.49 per cent. For the whole empire the figures are 2.37 per cent. in 1875-'76, against 1.59 per cent. in 1880-'81.

An account of public schools in Germany by an American consul is presented. He says that the whole educational system of the several States of Germany is placed under the chief supervision of the ministers of ecclesiastical affairs and public instruction. Salaries are paid from the municipal treasuries, and pensions are granted in cases of death or disability. The elementary schools in large cities and towns, as a rule, consist of eight classes, and children have to attend them from their sixth to their fourteenth year. The regular course of study in these schools comprises the following subjects: Religion, reading, writing, common rules of arithmetic, and the rudiments of algebra, the elements of geometry, history (chiefly Prussian and German), drawing, geography (chiefly extending over Prussian and German territory), the elements of physics and natural history, German composition and grammar, and compulsory gymnastics (Turnen). In addition, the girls are taught sewing and knitting. Though education is compulsory, moderate tuition fees are required. They are only a small contribution to school expenses, but the rate is fixed high enough in the secondary schools to practically exclude the children of the poor classes. In fact, there are no schools where the children of all alike receive common instruction. Public schools are increasing, but not so rapidly as to keep pace with the increase of population. The erection of buildings is a continual expense. The number of teachers' positions has increased 2,324 in Prussia in two years. The children subject to attendance in Prussian elementary schools number 5,503,970-over 20 per cent. of the population. The tax levy for school purposes is 35 to 45 per cent. of the general tax levy in many districts.

Great Britain and Ireland.-England and Wales have about 5,268,000 children between 3 and 13 years of age for whom elementary education should be provided; accommodations for 4,389,633 scholars; an enrollment of 4,045,362, and an average daily attendance of 2,863,535. There is a gradual improve

ment shown in the results of examinations, attributable to more regular attendance and increased proficiency of children and to the greater attention paid by teachers to individual progress. Military exercises and cookery are taught, and savings banks and school libraries are increasing. About 70 per cent. of the male teachers and 50 per cent. of the female have attended a training college. An average master's salary is about 1217; that of a mistress 727. 10s. Residences are furnished to nearly one-half the masters and one-third the mistresses. The proportion of female teachers is increasing.

London has 685,240 children between 3 and 13 and provides school privileges for 502,095. The average gross annual cost per child on the average attendance is 27. 17s.; average salaries of men 144/.; of women 108/. Classes for the blind were maintained in 30 schools. Numerous industrial schools have been established, and the amount of juvenile crime is being steadily reduced.

Scotland has school accommodations for 612,483 scholars; 544,982 enrolled, and 409,966 in average daily attendance. The education of the poorer classes is promoted by aid from parochial authorities. About 72 per cent. of the male and 76 per cent. of the female teachers have attended a training college. Many others have received thorough preparation as assistants. The average salary of a master is 1377.; of a mistress 697.; in many cases with residences free of rent. The school statistics of Scotland show great advances from 1872 to 1881.

Ireland has an enrollment of 1,066,259 in primary schools on the operation list, and an average attendance of 453,567. The attendance upon schools under denominational teachers was larger. The chartering of the new Royal University must be regarded as marking an era in the history of education in Ireland. It is empowered to confer all such degrees as can be conferred by any other university in the United Kingdom, degrees or other distinctions in theology excepted. No residence in any college nor attendance at lectures in the university is obligatory except for degrees in medicine and surgery. By these provisions the education of the Roman Catholic youth of Ireland is relieved of invidious distinctions.

An account of prominent phases of special instruction in

cludes a sketch of the Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines, and mentions items about the City and Guilds of London Institute, and the training of teachers.

Greece requires the attendance at school of all children between 5 and 12 years old. Four classes of schools exist: communal, ancient Greek, gymnasia, and universities. Illiteracy claims 55 per cent. of the male population and 75 per cent. of the female. The annual expenditure for primary education is $443,900. The average teacher's salary is $ICO.

Italy is proposing another compulsory school law.

In the Netherlands are 2,791 public and 1,136 private elementary schools. The public schools are attended by 226,766 boys and 182,574 girls; the private schools by 62,857 boys and 79,735 girls. Evening schools are attended by 22,212 boys and 12,029 girls, who also attend day schools, and by 8,610 boys and 2,256 girls who attend no other schools. Normal instruction is given by seven State normal schools, by normal courses in the provinces, and by seminaries at Leyden and Amsterdam. The normal courses have been systematized, and their studies include the Dutch language, reading and writing, history, geography, arithmetic, geometry, natural history, singing, pedagogy, drawing, mathematics, gymnastics, French, and female handiwork. Secondary instruction is given in several classes of schools. Superior education is to be had in the three famous universities of Holland (Leyden, Utrecht, and Groningen), which were aided by the government to the extent of over half a million dollars in 1881. Special instruction is afforded by agricultural, horticultural, veterinary, polytechnic, naval, military, East Indian, and other schools.

Norway has not furnished recent statistics. Education there is obligatory. Each parish has a schoolmaster, and almost every town supports a superior school. Seventeen principal towns have colleges, and the university at Christiania is attended by about 900 students annually.

Portugal has an unenforced compulsory school law. A little progress in primary education is reported. There are lyceums for secondary education, a polytechnic academy at Oporto, and a university at Coimbra.

Russia. The mass of the population of Russia is as yet without education; in fact, elementary education is almost im

possible according to the present system of instruction. The greatest dearth of schools is in those provinces which have a purely Russian population. In a male population of 40,000,000 there is one pupil to 45 persons, while the ratio among the women is one to 222. The peasant children can only obtain elementary instruction in schools which have been established in strict conformity with all legal requirements, which are supported from certain specified funds, and whose teachers have received their appointments in accordance with certain specified forms; and there are few such schools. The universities of Moscow and Kief have nearly 3,500 students.

Spain has advanced educationally during the last few decades. The attendance upon primary schools increased 117 per cent. from 1850 to 1865, and 36 per cent from 1865 to 1880. Universities are numerous and well attended.

Sweden has one well established school for each parish, instructed by a normal graduate. Ambulatory schools are found in thinly populated sections. The public schools have a division for children from 8 to 10 years old, and another for more advanced pupils. The institutions for secondary instruction are classified much as in Germany. The universities at Upsala and Lund are well endowed and take high rank.

In Switzerland education is widely diffused. In the Protestant cantons the proportion of school-attending children is to the whole population as one to five; in the half Protestant and half Roman Catholic cantons it is as one to seven; in the Roman Catholic, one to nine. Instruction is obligatory from the age of 6 to 12. Primary and secondary schools are found in every district; in the former the elements of education, with geography and history, are taught; in the latter (for children. from 12 to 15 years of age), modern languages, geometry, natural history, the fine arts, and music. Normal schools, for training schoolmasters, are in all the cantons, and there are four universities. Statistics relative to cantons are given, by which these statements are supplemented.

Turkey. There 450 burgher schools in Constantinople and the provinces, attended by more than 5,000 scholars. Bulgaria has 1,365 primary schools. More than 400 school-houses have been built since the Russian occupation; but the securing of teachers is not so easily accomplished. Most of them are

hastily prepared. The Mussulman and Israelite schools are kept up. There is as yet no superior education. In Roumelia education is obligatory, and the statute further declares that after 15 years the right to vote shall extend only to those who can read and write Bulgarian, Greek, or Turkish. There are no normal or superior schools; young teachers study pedagogics during their vacations.

ASIA.

India. The systems of education in India resemble that of Great Britain. The expenditures are met by grants, local taxes, tuition fees, subscriptions, endowments, etc. The institutions are classified with respect to grade into universities, colleges, secondary schools, primary schools, and schools for special or technical training; with respect to their relation to the government, into government schools, aided private schools, and unaided private schools under government inspection. There are further classifications, according to sex, language used, and religious faith. There are universities at Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. A fourth is proposed. A school for girls has been added to the colleges of Calcutta University. In nine provinces, having a population of 201,064,016, there were in March, 1881, 5,620 scholars in colleges of the arts; 1,497 in colleges for professional training; 19,847 in schools for special or technical training; and 275,340 in secondary schools. The elementary aided schools and unaided schools under government inspection had, at the same time, an enrollment of 1,888,345, of whom only 103,357 were girls. Primary instruction is aided by only a small proportion of the total expenditure for education. There is a growing interest in education in rural districts and among the Mahometan population.

Japan has many thousand schools arranged after European models, and private persons have contributed at least $30,000,000 for school purposes. The Japanese minister of education is (1881) studying education in Germany with a view of introducing some changes in the home system.

NORTH AMERICA.

Dominion of Canada.-The seven provinces of Canada regulate their own educational affairs, but not so as to interfere with the central administration. A council of education and