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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 739 



has a different system, and the methods vary con- 

 siderably even within the same institution for 

 appointments of different grades. My source of 

 information, one of the professors of Cambridge 

 University, assures me that it would be a very 

 formidable task to attempt to enter upon a com- 

 parative study of the methods of appointment in 

 the English universities. Speaking of Cambridge, 

 he says : " Certainly, for any trustworthy infor- 

 mation about this place, a small pamphlet (per- 

 haps it might not be small) is required." Under 

 these circumstances, I feel compelled, in my dis- 

 cussion, to cross the channel to France, where a 

 very simple and effective method is in operation. 



The instructing staff of a French university is 

 composed of professors (professeurs titulaires), 

 charges de cours, whom we shall here call assist- 

 ant professors for the sake of convenience, and 

 maltres de conferences, whom we shall call in- 

 fitruotors. The latter conduct their courses under 

 the direction of a professor, the subject being 

 frequently assigned to them by such a professor. 

 The assistant professor conducts his course inde- 

 pendently, being temporarily in charge of a pro- 

 fessorial chair; he therefore plays the part of a 

 professor without having professorial rank. A 

 limited number of these assistant professors may 

 be appointed prof esseurs-ad joints (let us say asso- 

 ciate professors). This distinction affects neither 

 the character of their work nor their salary, but 

 merely gives them the right to take part in the 

 deliberations of the council of the faculty. This 

 council, composed of the professors and associate 

 professors, has jurisdiction over a number of ques- 

 tions in which the faculty is interested, among 

 others those concerning appointments. An asso- 

 ciate professor, however, has no right to vote on 

 the appointment of a full professor. Certain other 

 matters are decided by the whole faculty (Aa- 

 semblfi de la Faculty), composed of all of its 

 members, including also the instructors. 



If a professorial chair in a French faculty of 

 Bcience is vacant, the council of the faculty may 

 or may not declare officially the existence of a 

 vacancy, after which the chair is filled temporarily 

 for a period of varying length by a charge de 

 cours. The minister of public instruction then 

 inquires of the council whether it wishes the chair 

 to be maintained, suppressed or transformed. If 

 the chair is maintained or transformed, the can- 

 didates, who must be at least thirty years of age 

 and in possession of the doctor's degree, are given 

 twenty days to hand in their applications, pub- 

 aications, recommendations, etc. After the expira- 



tion of this period the faculty presents a list of 

 two names (first and second choice) to the min- 

 ister of public instruction. But there exists a 

 body called " Section permanente du Conseil su- 

 pSrieure de I'lnstruction publique," composed of 

 a number of scholars and high officials of the min- 

 istry of public instruction. This committee like- 

 wise presents a list of two names to the head of the 

 department of public instruction, who may legally 

 choose either name on either list. It is possible, 

 therefore, that the new professor may not be one 

 of those requested by the faculty. But such cases 

 are very rare and arouse violent protests when 

 they present themselves. Generally the first choice 

 of the faculty is appointed. 



There is no law requiring the minister of public 

 instruction to consult the faculty in the appoint- 

 ment of assistant professors and instructors. As 

 a matter of fact, however, this is always done, 

 and except in one or two cases the wishes of the 

 faculty have always been respected. 



This system, which has some strong points, has 

 given satisfaction. Still it does not seem to differ 

 very materially from the German method, and 

 seems to me to be much inferior to the Italian, 

 which I shall now proceed to describe. 



If a professorship in an Italian university is to 

 be filled, the fact is advertised a long time before- 

 hand in the official journal of the department of 

 education, notices to this effect being also posted 

 on the bulletin-boards of the various universities 

 throughout the kingdom, as well as in other 

 appropriate places. Anybody who thinks that he 

 has any claim upon the position may apply. His 

 application must be handed in by a certain date. 

 It must include an account of his previous career, 

 accompanied by the proper documents, diplomas, 

 etc., a list of his publications and five copies of 

 as many of these as possible. Most of the other 

 documents are also required in five copies, for a 

 reason which will immediately become apparent. 



In the meantime the faculties of all of the 

 universities of the kingdom are asked by the 

 minister of public instruction to present him with 

 a list of five men, these to be members of a com- 

 mittee whose purpose it shall be to judge the 

 applications and to make a nomination. Each of 

 the universities thus registers its choice as to the 

 five men whom it considers the most competent 

 judges in the case. They are, naturally, all special- 

 ists in the subject of the vacant professorship or 

 else in closely allied subjects. These lists of five 

 are again printed in the official journal. Five of 

 the ten men who receive the highest number of 



