TRAINING OF TEACHERS IN FRANCE 185 



Finally, the practical value of this organization will depend on the 

 action of the normal school principals and primary inspectors. 

 How shall they be prepared for these important duties? It has 

 been proposed in various quarters that all examinations for these 

 positions be abolished. The primary inspectors, from among whose 

 number are subsequently taken without further examination the 

 normal school principals, would be chosen by the administration 

 from among the best of the professors or instructors and in accord- 

 ance with the capacities of which they may have given proof. But 

 this very choice from among two hundred candidates, all of whom 

 are not known by the same heads of departments, would be constantly 

 subject to mistake and unintentional injustice, to suspicion of 

 favoritism, and in many cases would be determined simply by the 

 success of the students. It would take only accidental account of 

 the general pedagogical studies so necessary for one who is to act as 

 a guide for future teachers. It is then neither probable nor desir- 

 able that the examination be abolished. Ought it to be reformed? 

 Yes, undoubtedly, in some points; but there should be no radical 

 transformation, for it has proved its usefulness; it is really pedagogic 

 and professional. 



(1) In regard to the written examinations which consist of a thesis 

 on some subject connected with teaching or on school management, 

 I suggest that there are too few. Trifling accidents may cause the 

 rejection of really able candidates, while permitting those of inferior 

 ability to pass. In too many cases mental capacity is judged by 

 a single pedagogical examination, so that the power of memory of 

 the least desirable candidate enables him to gain, if not a good mark, 

 at least one sufficient to pass. The element of chance would be 

 eliminated if we required two or even three written examinations 

 in the theory, practice, and history of pedagogy. 



(2) In the matter of oral examinations, the actual conducting of 

 recitations is indispensable. The practical test of an inspection 

 of his school by the examining board is excellent. The test of inter- 

 preting some author is a difficult one and vigorously opposed by 

 some. It is perfectly fair and convincing, however, by reason of its 

 very difficulty. It permits the examiner to form a fair judgment, 

 not merely of the candidate's power of discrimination and clearness 

 of mental vision, but also of his professional fitness. An inspector, 

 even on scientific subjects, ought to be able to explain to his teachers 

 a good page from some work on pedagogy or to discuss intelligently 

 the contents of a printed circular of directions. 



With these limitations, it is simply necessary to make the ex- 

 amination as accessible to candidates on the scientific side as to those 

 on the literary. This would be an easy matter if the subjects for 

 theses and oral work or the text required for reading were chosen 



