190 SANTIAGO. 



water. Among the gravest offences specified are not retiring at the appointed hour, leaving 

 the Institute without permission, and neglect to confess at the appointed times ; among the 

 lightest are uncleanliness and disrespect to their companions ! 



The classes taught are Latin, Greek, English, French, arithmetic, algebra, right-angled 

 trigonometry, geography, cosmography, drawing, history, rhetoric, and moral philosophy; 

 religion, music, and the elements of physics; chemistry, mineralogy, and natural history. If 

 the pupil enter without previous instruction, the course occupies six years. Subsequently he 

 may study law, medicine, surgery, and the natural sciences, for which from three to four years 

 more are necessary; but he is not permitted to enter the latter classes without previous 

 examination in all the others. Examinations are held at the close of the collegiate year, and 

 are strictly impartial, it being permissible and customary for invited guests to propound ques- 

 tions on the subject under consideration as long as they may be so disposed, so that the pupil 

 can have no previous intimation of replies to learn by rote. Degrees are conferred only by the 

 University. 



Connected with the National Institute, and under the immediate direction of the Minister of 

 Public Instmction, is a normal school. Twenty-eight young men, all interns, are prepared 

 here as tutors for primary education in the provinces. The course of study occupies three 

 years, vaccination being one of the subjects in which they are instructed. Notwithstanding gov- 

 ernment offers the best education " without money and without price," there are a number of 

 boarding and day schools, under the direction of convents'and individuals, which are well patron- 

 ized. Besides these, there are thirty-five primary institutions at the cost of the municipality. 

 The last, as also most of the day-schools for the humbler classes, are ordinarily held in rooms 

 miserably lighted and ventilated, of whose vicinity one becomes aware at the distance of a 

 hundred yards by the loud voices of all the children conning their lessons at the same time. 

 These rooms are shamefully close, unhealthy places, into which air and light in many cases only 

 find entrance through small apertures or windows in the upper part of the door ; and they are 

 quite Bedlams from the mode of memorizing just mentioned. But that which is most painful 

 is the sight of boys from eight to ten years of age clad as monks miniature monks, priests in 

 embryo ; and though contrary to law, many of them receive the tonsure when they have scarce 

 entered their teens. Few who enter convent schools ever adopt any other pursuit than that of 

 the idle class among whom they are brought up. 



All of these establishments, as well as every other in the republic which has science or educa- 

 tion for its object, are under the control of the University the old University of San Felipe, reor- 

 ganized in 1842. The corporation consists of a rector, a vice-rector, and five faculties, with their 

 corresponding secretaries, to wit : philosophy and humanities, physical and mathematical 

 sciences, medicine, law, political science, and theology. The President of the republic and the 

 Minister of Public Instruction are ex officio patron and vice-patron. These, with the rector, 

 vice-rector, two councillors named by government, the deans of the faculties, and the secretary- 

 general, form a council for the transaction of business. They have entire control of every thing 

 relating to instruction, not only in the public but also in private institutions ; nor can any new 

 school be opened without their sanction. Twice a year returns must be made to the council of 

 the number of pupils, the branches taught and text-books, the hours of instruction, the emolu- 

 ments received in short, of every circumstance bearing on education. More than this, a 

 member is deputed to make personal inspection of every school, and report to the board in 

 writing. They and their secretary are paid from the public treasury. One of the members is 

 called on annually to deliver a discourse on some subject connected with the history of the 

 country. This, together with the scientific and literary papers read before called meetings 

 of the different faculties, is published in a monthly bulletin of their proceedings, entitled 

 " Anales de la Universidad de Chile." Each faculty is composed of thirty members elected by 

 itself, and confirmed by the patron and vice-patron. It is also authorized to appoint honorary 

 and corresponding members 3 whose diplomas, hpwever, must be recommended by the council 



