[ARCHIBALD] MATHEMATICAL INSTRUCTION IN FRANCE 131 
always been written in French) is the principal thing required after 
the student has received the necessary certificats. Although the French- 
man works his out independently, the American student will not 
derive less cordial help or suggestion from a French than, under similar 
circumstances, from a German professor. He will find, however, that 
this cordiality is very unlikely to expand in the former case, as in the 
latter it is almost sure to do, to an invitation to be a guest in the home. 
The question of certificats, with their exacting examinations, makes 
the doctorat d’état decidedly the more difficult. There is, however, 
no reason why a student who has the ability to get his doctorate in 
Germany in two years may not get the doctorat de l’Université de Paris 
in the same time. Indeed, if he be well equipped, have a thése well 
under way before coming to France, and is prepared to “scorn delights 
and live laborious days,” this doctorate is a possibility in one year. 
But since to ‘those who know’ no other doctor’s degree in mathematics 
has quite as high a standard as the doctorat d’ état, why does not some 
Canadian aspire to be the first in the British Empire to win it? Or 
why does not some young man from the United States feel spurred to 
show his equality with one of his countrywomen? 
AUTHORITIES. 
For the study of primary and secondary education for boys, three 
publications are essential: 
Organisation pédagogique et plan d’études des écoles primaires 
élémentaires. 
Plan d’études et programmes d'enseignement des écoles primaires 
supérieures de garçons. 
Plans d’études et programme d'enseignement dans les lycées et collèges 
de garçons. 
All departments of education are dealt with by the invaluable 
Bulletin [hebdomadaire] administratif du ministre de Vinstruction pu- 
blique, 1850- and Annuaire de l'instruction publique et des beaux- 
arts. The budgets may be found in the Journal Officiel, and statistics 
of various kinds in the Annuaire Statistique of the Ministére du travail 
et de la prévoyance sociale direction du travail. 
Of unofficial publications which I have sometimes found useful are: 
Le Nouveau Baccalauréat de l’enseignement secondaire; guide du 
candidat. 
Programmes des certificats d’ études supérieures. 
