aimed at the Normal Schools (for teachers in the Elementary School5), which have been cut down from 153 to 87. ( Article 58 of Royal decree No. 1 o 54, May . 6, 1923.) Pri1nary Schools. On November 14, 1922, the promise was n1:ade of ''the spread of popular education," and on May 1, 1923, the Fascist Government published the decree authorising the 6,000 new schools already proposed by the Socialist group, in face of an illiteracy in Italy which still exceeds 30 per cent. Now, however, tlie Minister declares that there are 10,000 inefficient schools (whose is the responsibility?), and as a first step he is turning over 3,000 schools to the Committee for Combating Illiteracy, which will place them out by contract under ill-paid or unqualified masters. (Royal decree No. 2410, October 31, 1923.) The intention has also been .announced of entrusting schools to private indivi1uals, simply granting a subsidy (Royal decree No. 241p of October 26, 1923) ; and preparations are being made for the return of the schools to the Communes, with the system of State contributions which has already shown its complete bankruptcy precisely in the less developed districts, in which the need of schools was greatest. With the imposition of religious (Catholic) instruction in the Elementary Schools 1 (Royal decree No. 2185, October 1, 1923), and of a State philosophy in the Secondary Schools (Royal decree No. 2345, October 14), and with the political oath imposed on all teachers, even in the Universities, the educational system has completely lost its lay quality. (Royal decree No. 2102, September 30, 1923.) With the abolition of all elected representative· bodies, and the loss of all judicial guarantees, the teachers' organisations have been rendered valueless ; and all, after thirty years of struggle, have been sub53 Biblioteca Gino Bianco 7
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