31,817, of whom 26,413 are men, and 5,404, women. The eighth general Congress of Austrian teachers was held from the 3d to the 5th of August at Reichenberg in Bohemia. At the session of the Congress an association of the editors of pedagogic journals in Austria was formed upon the model of that which exists in Germany. Four journals joined the Association. The program adopted comprises the following points: Advocating eight years' obligatory instruction; abolition of local inspection; inspection proper confided to men especially qualified for the service; abolition of secret reports; abolition of the imperial depot of school-books; reform of the censorship of school-books; creation of school-gardens. RUSSIA. The Official Messenger of St. Petersburg announces that, "by order of the Emperor, the admission of new pupils to the course of medical training for women at the Nicholas Military Hospital will be discontinued after the present term. The students will be allowed to conclude their course, after which the clinical instruction for women at the hospital will be abolished." The Medical Academy for Women, the courses of which were quite equal to those of the old Universities, had 367 students. Since 1877, when the first lady students passed examinations, 281 ladies have completed the whole course of studies, and 152 had passed the examinations of M D.; 105 of them were in service at universities and in public hospitals. SWITZERLAND.-Preparations are being made for a complete exhibition of the educational system of Switzerland in the exposition to be held at Zurich this year. One of the most interesting features of the exhibition will be furnished by the various industrial schools. In Berne, under the present law, handwork and industrial schools may be established by private individuals, societies, or communities. In 1880 there were in the canton II such schools, numbering about 450 scholars. They received government aid to the amount of 4000 francs (about $772). A late number of EDUCATION Contained a brief account of the action with reference to the office of Secretary of Public Instruction. Advices since received at the Bureau of Education, inform us of the success of the endeavor to submit the decision of the councils to the referendum (popular vote). The minimum of signatures required by the Constitution is 30,000, and above 100,000 have already been secured. The educational condition of certain cantons would seem to be a sufficient reason for continuing upon the present basis which secures to each canton entire independence in matters of education. Thus Geneva has ample provision for free primary instruction, admirable secondary schools for both sexes, at which the fees are small, a gymnasium, a normal school, a well-equipped university, and schools of horology, design, bronze work, and chemistry, all maintained by the canton and city without help from the confederation. Geneva spends between $200,000 and 300,000 annually for public education. |