Not attend the school regularly

When a pupil does not attend the school

regularly, the head master informs the school committee, which in its turn

brings the fact under the notice of the pupil’s parents. If the child still

fails to attend the classes, the persons responsible for him are liable to

fines from one to three francs, the decision resting with the mayor of the

parish. When this fine has been inflicted on the parents or guardians three

times in succession they become liable to fines from five to thirty francs, the

decisions resting with the departmental education council.

If the head masters and presidents of the

educational councils to whom the carrying out of these provisions is entrusted

fail to give effect to the law, they are punishable by fines varying from 10 to

100 francs.

The proceeds from all these fines go to the

schools funds of the respective parishes.

Supplementary Instruction. With the object of enlarging the scope of knowledge acquired in the primary schools, the respective authorities organise evening and holiday classes with the gratuitous cooperation of the teachers of primary schools. During the last few years, however, the Ministry of Public Instruction has been awarding fees varying from 20 to 150 francs to those teachers who have distinguished themselves most. The curriculae of these supplementary classes include, in addition to the subjects taught in the primary schools, also practical agriculture, viticulture, sericiculture, apiculture, fructiculture, and, for girls, dressmaking, bringing up of children, singing, and house work.

Qualifications of Teachers.—Persons

aspiring to become teachers in a primary school must fulfil the following

conditions :

1.            They

must be Bulgarian subjects.

2.            They

must have graduated at a pedagogical school.

3.            They

must be more than seventeen years old.

4.            They

must be of good morals and be free from physical defects.

5.            They

must have passed successfully the State examination

admitting them to the career. Article 62 of

the law admits persons who have graduated a gymnasium or other secondary school

to compete for the post of teacher, if they fulfil the other conditions. This

departure from the prescriptions of Article 58: was rendered necessary owing to

the number of young men who have graduated in pedagogical schools not being

sufficient to fill the vacancies caused by the multiplication of schools or by

the retirement of old teachers.

The State examination for admission

The State examination for admission to the

post of teacher comprises an oral and a written examination. This latter

consists of two themes, one bearing on pedagogics in general and the other

doling with educational methods. In appraising the merits of the first of these

papers, special attention is paid to the treatment of the subject, and to the

style. No one is admitted to the oral examination unless he has obtained a

satisfactory mark in the written test. The oral examination is both theoretical

and practical, this latter consisting of two lessons given before the pupils of

a special division which is attached to the pedagogical schools.