246 ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GERMAN UNIVERSITIES. 



direction. In 'accordance with the tendency of the 

 French to throw overboard everything of historic de- 

 velopment to suit some rationalistic theory, their 

 faculties have logically become purely institutes for 

 instruction special schools, with definite regulations 

 for the course of instruction, developed and quite dis- 

 tinct from those institutions which are to further the 

 progress of science, such as the College de France, the 

 Jardin des Plantes, and the Ecole des Etudes Su- 

 perieures. The faculties are entirely separated from 

 one another, even when they are in the same town. 

 The course of study is definitely prescribed, and is 

 controlled by frequent examinations. French teaching 

 is confined to that which is clearly established, and 

 transmits this in a well-arranged, well worked-out 

 manner, which is easily intelligible, and does not ex- 

 cite doubt nor the necessity for deeper inquiry. The 

 teachers need only possess good receptive talents. 

 Thus in France it is looked upon as a false step when 

 a young man of promising talent takes a professorship 

 in a faculty in the provinces. The method of instruc- 

 tion in France is well adapted to give pupils, of even 

 moderate capacity, sufficient knowledge for the routine 

 of their calling. They have no choice between different 

 teachers, and they swear in verba magistri ; this gives 

 a happy self-satisfaction and freedom from doubts. If 

 the teacher has been well chosen, this is sufficient in 



