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scientific knowledge. Another privilege enjoyed by the middle school graduates is that of being appointed hanin officials. Whatever may be the causes at present, there are more than 250 middle schools; and, in spite of the fact that the present Minister of Education discourages rather than encourages the establishment of more middle schools, many people, and among them some of the most experienced in educational matters, are not satisfied with the present number. The officials of the Department of Education argue that it is much better for young men to enter the technical, commercial, or agricultural schools than to spend five years in a middle school, as it is not possible that they should all be admitted into the higher institutions of learning, whose accommodation is indeed very limited. But, on the other hand, others argue that the smattering of commerce, technology, or agriculture, such as is imparted to the scholars of those schools of equal rank with middle schools, is not to be compared with the liberal middle school education. The former could be learnt in a few years of practical life, whereas the latter could never be obtained by those not graduates of middle schools. This loss would seem to be so irreparable to the scholars as to render reasonable the demands of those people who desire more middle schools.

The principal defect of the middle schools is at present the lack of good teachers. The Tokyo Higher Normal School turns out about 100 graduates annually, and a new higher normal school is to be opened next September in Hiroshima. These schools, however, can barely supply teachers to the ordinary normal schools of the prefectures. Some University graduates enter the profession of teaching, but in those departments of the Universities which might furnish teachers—namely, those devoted to literature and science—the number of students is comparatively small. Hence the teachers are mostly recruited from among those that have passed the State examinations qualifying for the profession of teaching; this number is about 500 annually. This number, if properly distributed, would probably be sufficient to make up the deficiencies in the ranks of the teachers of the middle schools; the distribution is, however, so arranged that those who have passed examinations in such subjects as English or the sciences are extremely few, while there are many who are granted certificates for such subjects as caligraphy, etc.

All the defects of the middle schools may be traced directly or indirectly to the lack of good teachers. The authorities are well aware of this pressing need, and are trying to remedy it. As a means to this end they have established training schools in connection with the Tokyo Imperial University. A school of Japanese and Chinese Languages and Literature