France Abroad.

France is going abroad and with Czecho-Slovakia, in particular, she is seeking intimate relations. Nor is the diffusion of French culture to be regarded by Britain otherwise than with satisfaction; do we not seek that culture for ourselves? M. Firmin Roz has lately set forth in the Revue de France an account of some diffusing agencies. There are two Instituts français founded in Italy by the University of Grenoble, one at Florence and one at Naples. The Institut français at Madrid is attached to the Universities of Bordeaux and Toulouse. In London the Institut français -may it thrive vigorously!-is an offshoot from the University of Lille. At the Institut français of Prag two hundred and fifty Tzech students are working. In the Far East there is an Institut technique franco-chinois at Shanghai and another at Tokio. Lastly in South America the University of Buenos-Ayres is finding quarters and money for a new Institut français, now being organized. The Instituts are not of rigid uniformity. "Ces organismes," says M. Roz, "sont sans doute d'importance et de valeur fort inégales, mais ils doivent rester très différents d'après les conditions qui leur ont donné naissance, les besoins et les habitudes de chaque pays."

UNITED STATES.

In the Educational Review (LXIV., 5) an article "Concerning the Study of Spanish in the United States The Study of tells that in 1917, during the War, whilst Spanish. French had almost banished German, the teaching of Spanish made tremendous strides. Since the War there has been a slow renascence of interest in German; Spanish holds its ground. There are at present probably 300,000 students of the latter language in universities, colleges, and schools; and whereas in 1917 instructors were, at least in quality, insufficient, the teachers of Spanish are now, on the whole, as well prepared for their work as the teachers of French. We have ourselves pointed out the importance of Spanish for commerce and for culture, and in the New World it ranks next to English as a medium of intercourse. Some one was it not Elihu Root ?has prophesied that the twentieth century is to be the century of Spanish America."

Read.

It seems that in the preferences of the British book-reading public the effect of the war was to send What the Young Religion from the second to the fourth place and Sociology from the fourth to the secondwhence some will argue that a long peace is now desirable. Leaving the effects of war aside, we look to see what high-school pupils are reading in the United States, borrowing figures from Education (Boston, XI.III., 4). Their preferences are in thisorder: Boys 100 per cent Girls 98 per cent.

I.

Fiction

88

"

"

34 63 26 58

6. Biography

7.

Science

8. Religion

وو

have taken up chemistry seriously as a vocation. But there is a movement of women towards chemistry; in 1921, of the doctorates in Chemistry conferred by American universities, 9.7 per cent went to women. In educational institutions good teachers of the subject are always in demand, and in high schools perhaps half of the teachers of chemistry are women. In the field of higher education and of research the number, now not large, of women chemists will grow, it is expected, with improved opportunities; whilst the difficulties that have confronted women in industrial work are gradually being overcome. We quote verbatim a section of the article headed Chemistry plus Marriage":

"In the present effort to resolve the seeming paradox between vocation and marriage, experience is proving that, as a vocation, for married women to pursue chemistry offers no greater difficulties than do many other fields in which married women are working-business, social work, and the rest. Chemistry offers also a variety of opportunities for independent work which can be adjusted to the convenience of the married woman-in her own laboratory for clinical analysis, for microscopic work, for pharmaceutical chemistry, or, if she be economically independent, for pure research. A number of women chemists have married into the profession and are pursuing the science in collaboration with their husbands. Incidentally, chemistry is very applicable in important phases of home-making-food, sanitation, and the purchasing of materials."

This touch of the "bitter whips" is omitted from our copy of The Deserted Village," which has apparently been censored for political purposes. With the mission of the Student we are not concerned and remark only that "youths and echoes are alike indiscriminating. The "Annual Report of the Schools Committee, Bombay Municipality, 1021-22," in manner and matter is of a quite different order, being written soberly and containing much information about the progress of education in Bombay. We tell of one forward step during the year under review. The Schools Committee decided to hold simultaneously the Exhibition of Art and Handicraft and competitive sports, for both boys and girls: with the Exhibition the Committee would promote hand and eye training, with the Games general healthfulness. What more they have in view, are doing, and did, may be told in their own words: But a higher object, namely, the promoting of healthy rivalry and the stimulating of manly esprit de corps is sought to be obtained by arranging to hold the Exhibition and the Sports synchronously and in the same place, by making several of the competitions general ones, open to picked pupils from Marathi, Gujarati, and Urdu schools, all on terms of fraternal equality, and lastly, by asking every School to send representatives to compete at least in certain specified events. All the Schools are by turn brought to visit the Exhibition and have a glimpse of the Sports, and both the Opening and the Prize Distribution ceremonies are made gala days, celebrated with éclat. The Exhibition and the Sports of the year began on April 7, 1922, and continued for twelve days." Another sign of intellectual activity in Bombay, not lying, however, in our province, is the "Memorandum on the Retrenchment of Public Expenditure,” drawn up by Prof. Shah for the Central Labour Board and marked by a sanity of reasoning which will always command respect in the Empire. Turning to Lucknow, we have to congratulate it on the birth last September of The Lucknow University Journal, through which the local university will make some of its contributions to contemporary thought and exhibit the results of its studies and investigations. The first number (I., 1), just received, contains articles on "Comparative Politics from Eastern Data," The Mechanistic Aspect of Gravitation," and "Economic Reconstruction," besides the Editor's "Foreword" and a recent "Address" by the ViceChancellor. As to India in general we remark that she is passing through a critical period in her history, and to realize her legitimate aspirations needs, above all, sobriety of argument and moderation of speech-things which come of education. For the progress of education in India many Englishmen are very earnest; it is with education alone that we are concerned.

.

Furniture

FOR SCHOOLS

TABLE DESKS.

Table Desks are made in :

Single and Dual lengths with—

(a) Locker Top (as illustration).
(b) Enclosed Bookshelf.

(c) Plain Hinged Top.

They can be used flat as a Table or
raised to a sloping position for writing.
The edge nearest the pupil is always
the same height from the floor.

Full details and prices on application

STANTON DESK.

ALL WOOD. SLIDING
LOCKERS.

The most perfect hygienic desk made.
It is supplied in six different patterns
and in five distinct sizes the different
parts being carefully proportioned in
each height. Made in Oak, Pitch Pine,
and Whitewood. Can be stained any
colour to order. Full details and prices
on application.

FOLDING DESK WITH
BOOKSHELF.

This desk is specially suitable for
examination purposes, the top can be
used either flat or sloping; when open
it stands quite firmly. It is fitted with a
book-shelf which folds automatically
when the desk is closed.

Price, 23/6 each.

A cheaper Folding Desk is also
supplied at 18/6 each.

THE "ESAVIAN”
PATENT FOLDING AND
SLIDING PARTITIONS

AND WINDOWS.
Constructed on an entirely new
principle of patented sliding uprights
between each pair of leaves, this
arrangement provides the easiest
possible movement. Large Partitions
can be moved with the least possible
effort, consequently they are particularly
suitable for Schools and Colleges.

The Catalogue will be sent free on application to

The Educational
Supply Assoc. I

40-41 HOLBORN VIADUCT, LONDON, E.C. 1.

The author gives in this volume a record of a most important
experiment made at the Crimworth Demonstration School,
attached to the Mather Training College, Manchester. With
the co-operation of colleagues more familiar than herself with
the minds of young children, groping their way amid the
mysteries of number, she describes the various devices contrived
to meet the usual difficulties of children up to seven or eight
years of age.

"We are sure that if the work of our infant departments were carried on
in the spirit and on the lines advocated in this little volume, the work in the
upper departments would benefit greatly, and that curious educational
product, the arithmetical dunce, would soon be as extinct as the dodo."
SCOTTISH EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL.

MASON'S SCRIPTURE MANUALS.
By the late W. T. MASON, Μ.Α.,
Sid. Suss. Coll., Cambridge.

N these Manuals each chapter and verse of the Bible
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numerous Explanatory Notes collated from various
commentaries. After each question, the answer is either
given in full, or the number of the verse or verses in
which it occurs.

The following Manuals are already published:

The Clarendon Series of English
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of D. NICHOL SMITH and A. M. D. HUGHES.
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TWO NEW VOLUMES

Francis Bacon Selections. Edited
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Samuel Johnson, Poetry and
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With Introduction and Notes by R. W.
CHAPMAN.

English Critical Essays. (XVI-
XVIII Centuries.) Selected and Edited

by EDMUND D. JONES. From 2s. net.

[World's Classics.

This selection, which begins with Sidney and ends with Thomas
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The Clarendon Bible.
1. THE ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES. Edited by A. W. F. BLUNT.
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The problem of teaching Holy Scripture at the present time
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The compiler's aim has been to reveal the extent to which
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IERNE L. PLUNKET. 5s. 6d. net.

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By G. W. F. R. GOODRIDGE. With
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The exercises are designed to supply a thorough drill in the
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TWO NEW VOLUMES

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Cornelii Taciti De Vita Agricolae.

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