NOTE.-Per cent. of population enrolled in schools: Elementary education, 9 per cent.; secondary education, 0.6 per cent.; higher education, 0.5 per cent.

The asili infantili," or infant schools, are conducted after the Aporti method (founded by the Ab. bate Ferranti Aporti in 1847), that is "un poco troppo scuola e troppo pocco asilo," but a certain number are conducted according to Froebel's kindergarten system.

The "scuola irregolare" do not fulfil all requirements of the law in point of study and time of com.

mencement.

The "scuole normale," inferiore e superiore, are for the training of teachers, the former having a two years' course, the latter extending through three years.

The classical schools-ginnasi and licei-lead to the universities and learned professions. To subserve the necessities of modern life the "scuole tecniche" and "istituti tecnici were established. The "scuole tecniche" prepare pupils for industrial or commercial pursuits; the "istituti tecnici" for the professions of civil engineering, surveying, etc.

The "convitti" connected with secondary schools are establishments where pupils are boarded and lodged, and within which are schools of an elementary character, preparing pupils for classical or technical schools. "Convitti" for girls prepare for higher institutes for that sex.

The universities are classed as free and governmental, the free universities being supported by the municipalities or by their own funds. Under higher institutes, or schools which cooperate with the universities, are classed the Institute for the Perfecting of Higher Studies in Florence, the normal school at Pisa, the scientific and literary academy and the higher technical school of Milan, the royal school of medicine and surgery, etc.

Special schools include agricultural and mining schools, industrial and commercial schools, conservatories of music, etc.

III.-FINANCES.

Income. The funds for public schools are made up from amounts derived from the state, from provincial and local taxation, and in the communes, from revenues derived from the "opere pie" or foundations, and by tuition fees. The amount from revenues and from taxation is not known, but the funds as a whole in 1886 were: State, $7,189,061; provincial funds, $1,008,S07; communal funds, $12,014,928. Total, $20,212,796.

Expenditures.-The expenditures, subdivided as to grades of education are not to be obtained for the year 1886. The total expended by the state, provinces, and communes together was $19,001,341 at that date. The state expenditures are usually applied to making up deficiences in teachers' salaries; provincial subsidies to defraying the cost of school buildings, furniture, and similar material expenditure; communal funds to the general support of elementary schools.

.

The budget of the minister of public instruction for the year 1886.87

Ordinary expenses, $6,655,075; extraordinary expenses, $470,026; total, $7,125,101. Lire, 19.3 cents.

IV. SUPERVISION.

State. The minister of public instruction, appointed by the King, is at the head of the school system. His duties extend over all grades of education, and through the school officers reporting to him, he may be said to control the whole educational system of the Kingdom. He is assisted by the "Consiglio superiore di Pubblica Istruzione" or higher council of education, whose duties are advisory, administrative, and judicial in character. This council, by law of 1881, is composed of thirty-two members, fifteen of whom form a "giunta" or board, to attend to current matters. The minister and higher council are aided by the "Consultore Legale" or legal councillor. He gives legal advice concerning the interpretation and application of laws and regulations as applied to different grades of education. An inspector-general ("Ispettore Generale") and nine central inspectors ("Ispettori Centrale") are included among the state officers. They take the place of the "Provveditorate Centrale" of 1867, which was abolished in 1881, and are executive officers of the ministry for all provisions relating to their own departments, and they have general charge of education under authority of the ministry.

Local.-Each province has a "Consiglio Scolastico Provinciale" provincial school council, and a "Provveditore agli studi" or supervisor of studies, who is appointed by the king.

Each district has an "Ispettore de scuola elementare" or inspector of elementary schools, and there are also school delegates in subdistricts. or "mandamenti." The provincial school council is composed of the prefect of the province, who presides; of the provincial supervisor of studies, who acts as vice president; and of ten councillors. This council has the supervision of elementary, normal, technical, and classical education. It examines school laws and regulations, approves the budget for public schools, sanctions appointment of teachers, gives its opinion in regard to subsidies to the communes and to teachers, watches over private schools (the inspection of private schools covers hygiene and morals, but is not extended to the course of study) and in every way acts as representative of the minister of public instruction in the province.

The Provveditore has special charge of classical, technical, and normal schools. He acts as a link between the provincial council, the schools, and the minister. District school inspectors attend to the needs of the elementary schools, which they visit twice a year. A certificate of capacity is required, since 1881, of persons desiring to become district school inspectors. The delegates of the "mandamenti " are nonsalaried officials appointed by the King for three years. Their duties are to represent the provincial school council and watch over the elementary and secondary schools.

V.-TEACHERS.

The teachers of the Kingdom are trained in normal schools, "scuole normale," which are of two grades, higher and lower. These schools, 133 in number, with 10,542 pupils in 1886, are divided into governmental, provincial, communal, endowed, private, and not assimilated, "non pareggiate," that is, those which arrange their own courses, classify their own studies, etc.

The courses in the lower grade normals, which were called "scuole magistrale" until 1883, are two years in duration. Those in the higher grade normals are three years. The applicants for admission to the normal schools must have attained, men the sixteenth year, women the fifteenth year. They must be able to pass a partly verbal and partly written examination in grammar, arithmetic, catechism, and Bible history, and must possess a certificate of high moral standing. They are also required to have a physician's certificate, showing good physical condition.

Teachers also have the advantage of teachers' institutes and associa tions for the discussion of methods, school management, salaries, etc. Applicants for teachers' positions in elementary grades must be eighteen years of age, and must hold the required certificate of capac ity and morality. Normal pupils desiring teachers' positions in the lower grade require the certificate indicating completion of the two

years' course. For the higher grade positions the diploma for the three years' course is required. To obtain a certificate as teacher in the lower grade elementary schools, normal pupils are required to pass an exami nation in the following obligatory branches: catechism and Bible history, Italian language, reckoning and the metric system, pedagogics and penmanship. To obtain a diploma as normal teacher for the higher grade elementary schools the obligatory branches are religion, composition, history of literature, arithmetic and book-keeping, elements of geometry and natural sciences, history, geography, pedagogics, and penmanship. Teachers are appointed by the communal council subject to the approval of the provincial council. The appointment is usually for two years, but a probationary six months' period is sometimes required. To receive a permanent appointment the teacher must be twenty-two years of age, prior to that the appointment is renewed from year to year. Examinations for teachers' positions are held annually in the normal centers.

In private schools teachers must have the certificate required by law, and in private schools of a secondary grade they must be at least twenty-five years of age. The representative of the minister in the province sanctions the appointment of private school teachers. To teach in Sunday or holiday schools no certificate is necessary, but there are certain requirements to be fulfilled before a person can obtain such position.

The minimum salary of teachers in rural schools, by law of 1859, was not to be less than $96; in city schools, $135. Later laws modified this rate, and in May, 1885, Minister Coppino presented a bill to the Chamber of Deputies in which the salaries in higher city schools were not to be less than $193, women $156; in the higher grades of rural schools the minimum to be $152, women $123. In the lower grades the annual salary was less. By law of 1886 the salaries in the rural schools were to range from $140 to $180 for men, from $112 to $144 for women; in city schools from $180 to $264 for men, and from $144 to $211 for women. The subject of teachers' salaries is freely discussed each year, and an amelioration of the teacher's condition is earnestly desired.

In the secondary classical schools the professors are called titular and regent; the former appointed by the King when recommended by the minister, the latter by the minister. The titular professor is selected by competition from persons who have obtained the degree of university doctor in the science or department of study for which he is competing, or he must hold other legal certificate. The regent may be appointed without previous examination, if a graduate of a normal, but he can not become a titular professor without examination. The salaries of these professors range as follows: Ginuasi, or lower grade classical schools, $309 to $386; licei, or higher grade, $387 to $425. Teachers in technical schools and institutes are selected as they are in the classical schools, excepting that on account of haste in organization of technical

education competitive examinations were omitted. The salaries vary in the state, communal, and private institutions.

The university professors are divided into ordinary and extraordinary professors. The former are appointed by the King, the latter by the minister. A competitive examination before a commission appointed by the higher council of education, or the handing in of printed theses, is required to show the aptitude of the candidate for the position desired. The extraordinary professors are only appointed for the course, and a new appointment is required if they desire to continue in service. The salaries of the professors in the principal universities are placed at $1,158 after ten years' service, and at $965 for less time than that. At the minor universities the salaries range from $579 to $694.1

Teachers' pensions were allowed by law, but this enactment did not go into force until January, 1889.

VI.-COURSES OF STUDY.

Elementary schools.-The instruction in the infant schools tends to develop the body of the child by gymnastic exercises appropriate to its age, to inculcate moral teachings, by example, to occupy the child's time with games rather than book knowledge. The teacher endeavors to develop both body and mind and, in a measure, to exercise a maternal influence over the child.

The kindergarten-the first one in Italy being established in Venice in 1868, by the Baroness von Marenholtz-Bülow-is gradually becoming engrafted on the school system in the larger cities, Rome and Naples taking the lead; and a model school founded by the Baroness in 1871, in Florence, has been the means of educating the majority of directresses for such schools throughout Italy. The elementary schools are in two divisions. The course of study in the lower division covers religion (if the parents request it), reading, writing, elementary arithmetic, elements of the metric system, and the Italian language. A completion of this course occupies two years, and in a few districts three years. The higher course, covered by a two years' period, includes composi tion, calligraphy, bookkeeping, the elements of geography, natural his tory, and natural sciences. In the higher grades of boys' schools the elements of geometry and linear drawing are taught. Private schools are modelled after the public schools, and the course of study is doubtless similar to the above.

Schools of both elementary and secondary character for girls of the middle classes show considerable variety in their course of study. In a

1 The salaries in universities and secondary institutions may have been slightly increased since this statement was presented, as there have been numerous bills before the Chamber of Deputies regarding teachers' salaries, but several of them have failed to become laws, consequently the above range of salary is presumed to be correct to date,