The New Civilization, Laws, etc. 145 
most important step in her progress toward perfect civiliza- 
tion. Recognising the fact that no true improvement can 
be attained without sound education for all classes, the 
Government planned, in 1873, a system which should em- 
brace all the subjects of the Mikado, and provide for all 
wants. The country was divided into seven large districts, 
and one school was established for every 600 inhabitants. 
There are Elementary schools, Middle schools, Normal 
schools, Foreign language schools, and Colleges for special 
sciences. According to the report for 1879, the number of ele- 
mentary schools was over 25,000, with 59,000 teachers, large 
numbers of whom, however, were far below the standard 
of competency required and demanded by the regulations. 
This lack of competent teachers will, however, be remedied 
in time, by the provision made for training institutions and 
colleges. In that year, 2,162,962 children were found in 
attendance at these various schools. There were 389 
middle schools, in which 910 teachers were employed, and 
of this number, sixteen were foreigners. At the head of this 
school system, is the University of Tokio> which includes 
departments of law, medicine, literature, and science. 
Twenty-four of the teachers in the University are foreigners. 
Students from this University of special capacity are sent to 
America, and England, to complete their studies, receiving 
loans of ;^2oo per annum from the Japanese Government, 
which loans they are bound to repay upon receiving employ- 
ment at home after obtaining their degrees. 
Female education is at present receiving much attention 
in the country, and the Empress Haruku has assisted the 
movement both by tongue and purse. Her Majesty gave 
five thousand yens^ or dollars, in 1874, " for the purpose of 
promoting the education of her own sex in the Empire.'' 
With this sum, the Tokio Female Normal School was 
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