ement of her schools, and the perfect
articulation between them from the mother school to the university,
France has the most perfect system in the world. The _mother_ schools
(_ecoles maternelles_) take children from two to six years of age and
care for them from early morning till evening, thereby permitting
parents to go out to service. They combine the idea of the day nursery
and the kindergarten. These schools, in communes of 2000 or more, are
supported by the State, as are other schools.

Instead of the _mother_ school, sometimes the _infant_ school (_ecole
infantine_) takes the child from four to seven and prepares him for the
primary school. This school is more nearly like the kindergarten than
the _mother_ school. It is supported wholly by the State and is a part
of the school system, its work being entirely in sympathy with that
which follows. In this respect, France has taken a more advanced step
than any other nation.

With the lower _primary_ school (_ecole primaire elementaire_), which
covers the period of from six to thirteen years of age, begins
compulsory education. The sexes are always taught separately except in
villages of less than five hundred inhabitants. The pupils all dress in
the same garb. The school is in session five days in the week, Thursdays
being free. There is no religious instruction in the schools. A peculiar
and very important factor is a book of registration for each child, in
which specimens of work in each subject are entered once a month for
the whole school course. This book is kept at the school, and furnishes
an accurate indication of progress to parents or inspectors.[176]

Following the _lower primary_ school is the _higher primary_ (_ecole
primaire superieure_), which has two courses, one for pupils who wish to
review their elementary work and add some subjects, with the view of
better preparing for the ordinary walks of life; and the high school
course for those who wish to prepare for academic life. The former is
indefinite in length; the latter requires five years, thus being
completed at the eighteenth year. Here appears another superiority over
the German system, in which, it will be remembered, there is no
connection between the common and the high school.

These high schools prepare for the normal school and for the university.
There are also many other kinds of schools under State support,--such as
technical schools, apprentice schools, schools of mines, etc. In