movement may be described in many ways, but all are connected with one feature of the spirit of our times. In every direction we recognize a growing faith in knowledge as the measure and the lever of progress. . . . The knowledge that is the peculiar treasure of universities is no longer regarded as some mystic possession to be handed down from one generation of self-appointed guardians to another; it is rather the leaven of efficiency without which the fabric of our national life will become stale and profitless. In London we are becoming conscious at last of the possibilities of a university worthy of the seat of Empire; and the series of munificent gifts toward the purchase of a new central site which we have recorded in the last few days has brought home to all of us, in a very practical way, that a great movement is on foot." The proposition is to raise a million pounds sterling for the site and the necessary buildings for the purpose.

THE LLOYD-GEORGE INSURANCE LAW.-England has recently had several laws under consideration which will greatly modify existing social and political conditions. One of these, drawn up and passed through the efforts of Chancellor Lloyd-George, went into effect on July 15. It is a measure for insuring working people against lack of support during illness or disability by means of a fund to which the working people themselves, their employers, and the government each contributes a specified amount. The law affects more than 13,000,000 persons,-people of both sexes, of all ages, and of every occupation. At the age of 70 the insurance stops, because at that time the working person begins to enjoy the benefits of the Lloyd-George old-age pension law of 1909.

ENGLAND'S DISTRUST OF GERMANY.-As a matter of world politics the evident distrust of Germany that prevails in England because of the rapid increase in the strength of the German navy is of general interest. Englishmen cannot see the need for a great German war fleet and are inclined to interpret it as a menace to their own coasts.

The Review of Reviews, in its September issue, publishes a letter written by Sir Hiram Maxim which sets forth this suspicion. He says: He says: "Germany has no neighbors who would dare invade her territory or attempt the least in

fringement of her rights; all of them have the best possible reasons for desiring to maintain peace with her. Hence Germany's position is absolutely secure and unattackable; she runs not the remotest danger of any attack upon her rights. In foreign countries we find Germany possesses all the rights and privileges which England and the United States enjoy. . . . No other nation has the faintest idea of infringing upon her rights. Germany has no dangerous enemy, domestic or foreign. Why then does she burden herself with taxes in order to build a fleet of monstrous strength?... Justly or unjustly, the English seem to imagine that when the Germans have completed their powerful fleet, London will awake some foggy morning to learn that during the night the greater part of the English battleships have been annihilated by German torpedo-boats, and that Portsmouth is being bombarded without a declaration of war, as was the case when the Japanese destroyed the Russian fleet before Port Arthur."

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We are inclined to regard the commercial success of Germany as a more fundamental cause of England's feeling toward that country. As Sir Hiram Maxim says, Germany has at the present time a very extensive foreign commerce, thanks, not to political influence or force of arms, but to the incomparable skill and enterprise of her people.' The fact that she is the chief commercial rival of England probably counts more for the latter's unrest than the building up of a great navy, although such a navy naturally furnishes the foundation for fears of contests for supremacy in other directions.

France.

LEAGUE OF EDUCATION.-There has existed in France ever since 1866 an organization which has had for its specific purpose the improvement of the opportunities for popular education. Popular education has always depended, especially in great initial movements, upon the zeal and personality of individuals; and France was fortunate in having the active and earnest ability of Jean Macé back of this movement which is known as The League of Education. In the early years the energies of the League were devoted largely to the conduct of a general campaign for universal

and compulsory education. Macé regarded this as "the necessary corollary of universal suffrage," and, in 1872, the League presented a monster petition for legislation on the subject to the National Assembly at Versailles. This was the famous petition presented in the name of "a sou against ignorance," one sou being the tax on signers for the expenses of the work.

It was not, however, until 1882 that primary education was made both free and compulsory in France. Since that time the energies of the League have been devoted to the work of popular education through private agencies auxiliary to the schools. The League maintains a general office in Paris and, because of its importance, has been recognized by the French Government as of "public utility." It is interesting to know that after the death of Jean Macé a bronze statue was erected to his memory in Paris by the sous of the school children, and that this statue bears as a device the principle which governed his life, "To_know what one wishes. To will what one knows." (See Education for February).

IGNORANCE OF GENERAL FACTS AND EVENTS.-Leading newspapers in France and England have been somewhat startled at the lack of important general information that has been shown by young people after they have left the schools. Things with which every one is supposed to be familiar, and especially matters that are of more than usual importance, have been assumed to be well known and at least fairly well understood by all who have received instruction in the schools. Hence, the extent of the ignorance along these lines has startled those who have regarded every good and great thing as possible to the schools. And it seems like a good opportunity to reiterate several important things that have for some time been apparent to the thoughtful friends of the school:

First, the essential and most important things need in some way to be more specifically pointed out in courses of study, so that they may receive particular attention and as far as possible be held to as essential requirements.

Second, the tenure of compulsion in education must in some way be extended until the knowledge and training are more complete; for often the school is obliged to release

its hold upon young people just at the time they are really beginning to be educated.

Third, the unbusiness-like policy of falling short of providing the best in educational opportunity and influence, because of the additional expense involved, must be discontinued; for nowhere is there more danger of nullifying by such a policy the value of what is already invested than in education.

FROEBEL.-The last two years have witnessed a great revival in France of the study of Froebel and his teachings. His doctrines of inner development and social oneness have been given a new prominence by the social movements which have aroused great public interest in the child. This general influence has been greatly strengthened by the interest recently manifested in Froebel's teaching by such great educators as Compayré, as well as by the movement for the study of Froebel which was organized by the Normal School of Sèvres in 1910. The presentations of the work and methods of Miss Montessori are having this same influence in the United States, just as the interest in vocational training has given new life to the study of Pestalozzi and his teachings. It seems somewhat strange that the twentieth century should be going to school to the eighteenth; but the fact will always stand that the latter was a notable epoch in educational development, and the strong constructive work of Froebel and Pestalozzi will always loom large in any efforts at developing the knowledge, skill, or nature of the child.

Germany.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN PRUSSIA.-For a number of years Prussia has been moving toward a complete system of obligatory vocational education. Education for December states that the draft of a law controlling the matter has recently been submitted to the Prussian legislature. This law would make attendance at a commercial or industrial continuation school obligatory upon all boys under 18 years of age. Boys "usually finish the common schools at the age of 14 or 15, and, according to the proposed State law, their compulsory attendance at the con

tinuation school will continue for three years or until the end of apprenticeship, but not beyond the 18th year.

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Boys have the privilege of receiving similar instruction at a guild or other continuation school or trade school, provided the instruction at such school has been recognized by the President of the respective Government District (Regierungs-President) as an adequate substitute." The tuition in the public continuation schools already established is merely nominal, being from $1.00 to $1.50 per year; and is paid by the master of the apprentice or by the employer. The main financial burden is borne by the municipality aided by state appropriations where the local authorities have established compulsory attendance—a privilege that has for some time been optional with the respective municipalities.

HEALTH CIRCULARS.-The Journal of the American Medical Association reports a movement on the part of the German association for the spread of health knowledge among the people (Verein für Volkshygiene) which promises to be far-reaching in its results. With the view of popularizing hygienic knowledge and living, it is placing, for free distribution, easily understood pamphlets on matters of health in the offices of physicians and dentists and in all pharmacies. The Prussian Minister of the Interior is coöperating with them and has arranged for the distribution of 100,000 circulars giving information concerning the most common communicable diseases. In addition, arrangements have been made to place in the above-named places: (1) A short, easily understood circular on the importance of public and personal hygiene; (2) circulars on the abuse of alcohol, on the movements to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, and on the diseases which are disastrous to plant life; and (3) information in regard to the proper care of infants. No information in regard to the treatment or cure of disease is to be given in the pamphlets, the people being advised to apply to a physician immediately upon the appearance of disease. The damage done by quacks and nostrums is also to be emphasized.

NEW SCHOOL BILL FOR SAXONY.-A new school bill for the Kingdom of Saxony to take the place of the school law