by the minister of state for education. The license enables the person to teach in one of the three courses of elementary schools according to the capacity shown in the examination. In any locality where no teacher can be found qualified for any one of the elementary divisions, then those qualified for any one or for several subjects may be substituted. Scholars eminent in learning, who are competent to instruct in moral teaching, or those who have a good knowledge of agriculture, industry, and commerce, may obtain teachers' licenses for the particular subject without examination. Teachers of schools which belong to ward or village [an elementary-school district may consist of a single ward or village or of several wards or villages combined] shall be appointed or dismissed by the governor of Fu or Ken at the request of the school committees. The regulations promulgated by the department of education as to the licensing of school-teachers are as follows: Licenses as instructors in lower grade normal schools are to be granted to graduates of the male normal course; licenses as instructors in the female lower grade normalschool course are to be granted to graduates of the female normal course, and licenses as instructors of gymnastics to be granted to graduates of the special course of gymnastics in the higher normal school.

Licenses may be granted to nongraduates after an examination in one or more subjects of the lower grade normal-school course, and in regard to moral character and physical constitution.

The teachers of secondary schools must be either normal graduates or university graduates. Still the governor of Fu or Ken may engage persons whom he considers qualified for such purpose, licenses being given after an examination as to moral conduct and intellectual attainments. Men of known learning, and who are skilled in imparting instruction, who hold diplomas of some kind or other and are known to have knowledge of agriculture, industry, and commerce, may be exempted from such examinations.

The examinations and tenure of office are so clearly presented in the regulations governing licensing and appointment that no more detailed statement seems necessary. In 1891 it was determined that provisional licenses should be granted, if deemed necessary from local considerations, to candidates for the post of elementary school teachers after due inquiry as to the qualifications of such persons.

Salaries. The rank and salary of the directors and teachers of public schools are determined by the governor of Fu or Ken, subject to the approval of the minister of state for education. The rank and

The subjects of study to show the intellectual attainments of the candidate include Japanese and Chinese literature, English, French, and German; arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytical geometry, mechanics, surveying, astronomy, physiology, zoology, botany, mineralogy, geology, physics, chemistry, geography, history, political economy, Japanese law, mental science, logic, science of education, writing, drawing, bookkeeping, singing, gymnastics, agriculture, industry, and commerce. Candidates are to be examined in one or more of these subjects according to choice. The license indicates the subjects in which examined.

salary of directors and teachers of the schools organized by other departments than that of education are determined by the ministers of the respective departments, and are therefore different one from the other. The salaries of teachers are in part paid out of the local taxes. The officials in charge of such matter in cities, towns, and villages are to make provision for paying "the salaries, traveling expenses, etc., of elementary teachers," the amounts to be fixed by the Fu Chiji and Ken Chiji after consultation with the city council or similar officials in towns or villages.

The right to the use of a certain area of land or payment in kind may be substituted for certain portions of the salaries of teachers in city, town, or village elementary schools, the proportion to be fixed by the Fu Chiji or Ken Chiji, subject to the approval of the minister of state for education.

The salaries of directors of Fu or Ken normal schools are to be paid out of the national treasury. The titles and quasi-official ranks of persons employed in Fu or Ken ward or village school consist, in normal and secondary schools, of directors from the eighth through the thirteenth rank, and of instructors and assistant instructors from the first through the third rank; in elementary schools of directors from the eleventh through the seventeenth rank, and of teachers from the first through the seventh rank. The rank and title of persons employed in professional schools, agricultural, commercial, and industrial schools, are established in conformity with the above. The amount of salary given in the university and in the governmental schools under the control of the department of education is as follows:

a The Chokunin is a class of official from the first to the third rank, who is directly appointed by the Emperor.

b The clerks are divided into classes 1 to 10; the official rank and salary are the same as the clerks of Government departments.

Pensions. The granting of pensions is decided by the minister of state for education on certificates presented by the Fu Chiji or Ken Chiji. The directors and regular teachers in normal, public secondary schools, and the teachers of elementary schools who have been in office more than fifteen years receive life pensions when they have been ordered to retire after having attained 60 years or have retired owing to physical disability, or because of the closing or reorganization of schools. Those who come under any of the following conditions shall receive life pen

sions and be granted additional pensions up to seven-tenths of the minimum sum of such pensions, though their years of service may not amount to the above, viz, if they have lost one or more limbs or met with similar accident, or had long sickness unfitting them for discharge of duty. As regards the officials of the Government or public schools, who are to be put on the same footing as the directors and regular teachers, and who have been transferred as such to any of the latter schools, the years of service in their former schools shall be included in computing the term of service for granting pensions. They are disqualified, however, from receiving pensions if they have committed acts warranting dismissal, have been subjected to imprisonment, have lost their status as Japanese subjects, have engaged in the public service without permission from Fu Chiji or Ken Chiji, have retired from office for their own convenience before attaining 60 years. Provisional teachers in normal, secondary, or elementary schools receive life pensions equal to one-fourth of salary at time of retirement.

The directors and regular teachers in Fu or Ken normal schools, and in public secondary schools, shall be granted a sum equal to one month's salary received at the time they retire, in case of retirement after service of more than one year or less than five years, or a sum equal to two months' salary in case of retirement after service of more than five years or less than eleven years, or a sum equal to three months' salary in case of retirement after service of more than eleven years or less than fifteen years. The amount is to be provided for by the city, town, or village where the persons belong at time of retirement. The regular teachers in city, town, or village elementary schools shall be granted a sum equal to two months' salary in case of retirement after more than five years or less than eleven years' service, or a sum equal to three months' salary in case of retirement after more than eleven years or less than fifteen years' service. The families of deceased directors and teachers are also entitled to pensions, if the minister of state for education approves, and the Fu Chiji and Ken Chiji request it. Directors and regular teachers of normal or secondary schools shall pay in annually 1 per cent of their salary into the national treasury, and regular teachers of elementary schools the same amount into the funds of Fu and Ken where they are teaching. The city, town, and village, wherever any of the above schools are situated, are also to pay in a like amount to serve as a pension fund for teachers of different grades. Pensions to retired directors and teachers, pensions and aid to the families of deceased directors and teachers are to be paid out of the grant made by the national treasury, out of the interest of the pension fund, or from other sources of income.

Teachers' Institutes and Educational Societies.-The institutes were formed as early as the year 1872, for the purpose of discussing and investigating methods of teaching." In 1876 educational officers, school district officials, school teachers, and other officials formed a society for the discussion of important points connected with educational organiED 91-19

zation. Its meetings were held in Tokio, and the discussions were limited to educational administration. From that date on various associations were formed in different parts of the Empire and the discussions became more general in character. Societies of this character are noticed under Supplementary Institutions.

COURSES OF STUDY.

The Japanese consider the kindergarten to be the basis of education, inasmuch as it fosters in the infant mind good habits and moral instruction, while giving the first impetus to the expanding of the intellectual faculties, and greatly promoting the physical development. In connection with the Tokio Female Normal School the first kindergarten of Japan came into existence in 1876. The children, if not less than 3 years and not more than 6 years of age, were divided into three groups, according to ages, and the organization of the school was according to Froebel methods. In 1878 a training course was established for persons between 20 and 40 years of age who desired to be kindergarten teachers, and who were of good moral character, of sound health and constitution, able to read ordinary writing, and were possessed of a general knowledge of arithmetic. In 1880 kindergarten teaching was included in the curriculum of the female normal school for one year previous to graduation. The year 1884 brought about a revision of kindergarten regulations; instead of three groups there was an expansion into six groups, and all infants under school age were to be trained according to the Froebel system. The school connected with the normal was made a model for other kindergärten, a school fee of 1 yen (99.7 cents) a month was charged, and the following schedule of study was adopted. The figures show the number of exercises each week. Twenty minutes each is given to moral instruction and to various object lessons; thirty minutes each to the other exercises and lessons.

The elementary schools are designed to give children the rudiments of moral and intellectual education adapted to make them good members of the community, together with such general knowledge and skill as are necessary for practical life, due attention being paid to their bodily development. As heretofore stated the elementary schools are divided into lower elementary and higher elementary schools. The course in the former extends over three or four years; in the latter over two, three or four years. Supplementary courses of a more elementary or a higher course may be established in both of these groups of elementary schools. Apprentices' schools and supplementary schools for technical instruction are classed under the head of elementary schools. The subjects of study and the length of the course of study for special courses, supplementary courses, apprentices' schools, and supplementary schools for technical instruction, are arranged according to the orders of the minister of state for education. Certain subjects of study may be made optional in the elementary schools. In Fu and Ken regulations governing the elementary schools of the jurisdiction are to be -drawn up by the highest administrative officers according to the standard outlines prescribed by the minister. The course of study has varied somewhat from year to year, local circumstances governing the changes. After the establishment of a constitution and the general educational revision, which took place in the various grades of education, an imperial ordinance more clearly defined the courses in elementary schools. Instruction is given in the ordinary elementary schools in morals, reading, composition, writing, arithmetic, and gymnastics, but, if local circumstances require, gymnastics may be omitted and the history and geography of Japan, drawing, singing, and handiwork, may be added. In the higher elementary schools the geography of foreign countries and science are added, and sewing for women. But here, as in the ordinary course, if local circumstances require, geography of foreign countries and singing may be omitted, and the elements of geometry, a foreign language, agriculture, commerce, and handiwork be added. Any person desiring to give similar instruction in a private school can do so by obtaining permission of the governing authorities of city or town.

The course of study in secondary schools was, by the education act of 1872, to serve as a supplementary course to that of the elementary schools, but the subjects varied so in the different localities that new regulations had to be adopted. Commencing with a course varying between two and six years the secondary schools were gradually changed to lower grade secondary and higher secondary schools. In 1886 an imperial ordinance was issued which defined the secondary school as an institution "to prepare pupils either for practical occupations or for admission to the higher educational institutions." The higher secondary schools, one of which is to be established in each of the five sections into which the country is divided, are under the direct control of the department