ime; they strengthen it, they illustrate it," they
are the literary coadjutors of public authority. Let the spirit of
the Normal School conform to that of these great men. The University
establishment is the original, central workshop which forges, finishes
and supplies the finest pieces, the best wheels. Just now the workshop
is incomplete, poorly fitted out, poorly directed and still rudimentary;
but it is to be enlarged and completed and made to turn out more and
better work. For the time being, it produces only what is needed to fill
the annual vacancies in the lycees and in the colleges. Nevertheless,
the first decree states that it is "intended to receive as many as
three hundred youths."[6148] The production of this number will fill
all vacancies, however great they may be, and fill them with products of
superior and authentic quality. These human products thus manufactured
by the State in its own shop, these school instruments which the State
stamps with its own mark, the State naturally prefers. It imposes them
on its various branches; it puts them by order into its lycees and
colleges; at last, it accepts no others; not only does it confer on
itself the monopoly of teaching, but again the preparation of the
masters who teach. In 1813,[6149] a circular announces that "the number
of places that chance to fall vacant from year to year, in the various
University establishments, sensibly diminishes according as the
organization of the teaching body becomes more complete and regular in
its operation, as order and discipline are established, and as education
becomes graduated and proportionate to diverse localities. The moment
has thus arrived for declaring that the Normal School is henceforth the
only road by which to enter upon the career of public instruction; it
will suffice for all the needs of the service."

VI. Objects and sentiments.

Object of the educational corps and adaptation of youth to
the established order of things.--Sentiments required of
children and adults.--Passive acceptance of these rules.
--Extent and details of school regulations.--Emulation and the
desire to be at the head.--Constant competition and annual
distribution of prizes.

What is the object of this service?--Previous to the Revolution, when
directed by, or under the supervision of, the Church, its great object
was the maintenance and strengthening of the faith of the young.
Successor of the old