say that he does not believe in them； sets himself up against the
French people； the human species and nature。〃 Consequently； we decree
that 〃the French people recognizes the Supreme Being and the
immortality of the soul。〃 … The important thing now is to plant this
entirely philosophic faith in all hearts。 We introduce it into the
civil order of things； we take the calendar out of the hands of the
Church； we purge it of its Christian imagery； we make the new era
begin with the advent of the Republic； we divide the year according to
the metric system； we name the months according to the vicissitudes of
the seasons； 〃we substitute； in all directions； the realities of
reason for the visions of ignorance； the truths of nature for a
sacerdotal prestige；〃＇95＇ the decade for the week； the décadi for
Sundays； lay festivals for ecclesiastical festivals。＇96＇ On each
décadi； through solemn and appropriate pomp； we impress on the popular
mind one of the highest truths of our creed； we glorify； in the order
of their dates； Nature； Truth； Justice； Liberty； Equality； the People；
Adversity； Humanity； the Republic； Posterity； Glory； Patriotism；
Heroism； and other virtues。 Besides this； we honor the important days
of the Revolution； the taking of the Bastille； the fall of the Throne；
the punishment of the tyrant； the expulsion of the Girondins。 We；
too； have our anniversaries； our relics； the relics of Chalier and
Marat；＇97＇ our processions； our services； our ritual；＇98＇ and the vast
system of visible pageantry by which dogmas are made manifest and
propagated。 But ours； instead of leading men off to an imaginary
heaven； brings them back to a living patrimony； and； through our
ceremonies as well as through our creed； we shall preach public…
spiritedness （civism）。
It is important to preach this to adults； it is still more important
to teach it to children： for children are more easily molded than
adults。 Our hold on these still flexible minds is complete； and；
through national education 〃we seize the coming generations。〃＇99＇
Naught is more essential and naught is more legitimate。
〃The country；〃 says Robespierre； 〃has a right to bring up its own
children； it cannot confide this trust to family pride nor to the
prejudices of individuals； the eternal nourishment of aristocracies
and of a domestic federalism which narrows the soul by keeping it
isolated。〃 We are determined to have 〃education common and equal for
all French people；〃 and 〃we stamp on it a great character； analogous
to the nature of our government and the sublime doctrines of our
Republic。 The aim is no longer to form gentlemen （messieurs） but
citizens。〃＇100＇
We oblige＇101＇ teachers； male and female； to present certificates of
civism； that is to say； of Jacobinism。 We close the school if
〃precepts or maxims opposed to revolutionary morality〃 are taught in
it； that is to say； in conformity with Christian morals。 Children
will learn to read in the Declaration of Rights and in the
Constitution of 1793。 Republican manuals and catechisms will be
prepared for their use。＇102＇ 〃They must be taught the virtuous traits
which most honor free men； and especially the traits characteristic of
the French Revolution； the best calculated to elevate the soul and
render them worthy of equality and liberty。〃 The 14th of July； 10th of
August； 2nd of September； 21st of January； and 31st of May must be
lauded or justified in their presence。 They must be taken to meetings
of the municipalities； to the law courts；＇103＇ and especially to the
popular clubs； from these pure sources they will derive a knowledge of
their rights； of their duties； of the laws； of republican morality；〃
and； on entering society； they will find themselves imbued with all
good maxims。 Over and above their political opinions we shape their
ordinary habits。 We apply on a grand scale the plan of education
drawn out by Jean…Jacques （Rousseau）。＇104＇ We want no more literary
prigs； in the army； 〃the 'dandy' breaks down during the first
campaign；＇105＇ we want young men able to endure privation and fatigue；
toughened； like Emile； 〃by hard work〃 and physical exercise。 … We
have； thus far； only sketched out this department of education； but
the agreement amongst the various plans shows the meaning and bearings
of our principle。 〃Children generally； without exception； says Le
Peletier de Saint…Fargeau；＇106＇ the boys from five to twelve； the
girls from five to eleven years of age； must be brought up in common
at the expense of the Republic； all； under the sacred law of equality；
are to receive the same clothing； the same food； the same education；
the same attention 〃in boarding…schools distributed according to
cantons； and containing each from four to six hundred pupils。
〃Pupils will be made to submit every day and every moment to the same
rigid rules。。。 Their beds must be hard； their food healthy； but
simple； their clothing comfortable； but coarse。〃 Servants will not be
allowed； children must help themselves and； besides this； they must
wait on the old and infirm； lodged with or near them。 〃Among daily
duties； manual labor will be the principal thing； all the rest will be
accessory。〃 Girls must learn to spin； sew and wash clothes； the boys
will work the roads； be shepherds； ploughmen and work…hands； both will
have tasks set them； either in the school…workshops； or in the fields
and factories in the neighborhood； they will be hired out to
surrounding manufacturers and to the tillers of the soil。 Saint…Just
is more specific and rigid。＇107＇ 〃Male children from five to sixteen
years of age； must be raised for their country。 They must be clad in
common cloth at all seasons； and have mats for beds； and sleep eight
hours。 They are to have common food only； fruits； vegetables；
preparations of milk； bread and water。 They must not eat meat before
sixteen 。 。 Their education； from ten to sixteen； is to be military
and agricultural。 They will be formed into companies of sixty； six
companies make a battalion； the children of a district form a legion；
they will assemble annually at the district town； encamp there and
drill in infantry tactics； in arenas specially provided for the
purpose； they will also learn cavalry maneuvers and every other
species of military evolution。 In harvest time they are to be
distributed amongst the harvesters。〃 After sixteen； 〃they enter the
crafts；〃 with some farmer； artisan； merchant or manufacturer； who
becomes their titular 〃instructor；〃 and with whom they are bound to
remain up to the age of twenty…one； 〃under the penalty of being
deprived for life of a citizen's rights。＇108＇ 。 。 。 All children
will dress alike up to sixteen years of age； from twenty…one to
twenty…five； they will dress as soldiers； if they are not in the
magistracy。〃 … Already we show the effects of the theory by one
striking example； we founded the 〃Ecole de Mars；〃＇109＇ we select out
of each district six boys from sixteen to seventeen and a half years
old 〃among the children of sans…culottes；〃 we summon them to Paris；
〃to receive there； through a revolutionary education； whatever belongs
to the knowledge and habits of a republican soldier。 They are
schooled in fraternity； in discipline； in frugality； in good habits；
in love of country and in detestation of kings。〃 three or four
thousand young people are lodged at the Sablons； 〃in a palisaded
enclosure； the intervals of which are guarded by chevaux de frises and
sentinels。〃＇110＇ We puts them into tents； we feed them with bran
bread； rancid pork； water and vinegar； we drill them in the use of
arms； we march them out on national holidays and stimulate them with
patriotic harangues。 … Suppose all Frenchmen educated in such a
school； the habits they acquire in youth will persist in the adult；
and； in each adult we shall find the sobriety； energy and patriotism
of a Spartan or Roman。
Already； under the pressure of our decrees； civism affects customs；
and there are manifest signs； on all sides； of public regeneration。
〃The French people；〃 says Robespierre； 〃seems to have outstripped the
rest of humanity； by two thousand years； one might be tempted to
regard them； living amongst them； as a different species。 In the rest
of Europe； a ploughman； an artisan； is an animal formed for the
pleasures of a noble； in France； the nobles are trying to transform
themselves into ploughmen and artisans； but do not succeed in
obtaining that honor。〃＇111＇ Life in all directions is gradually
assuming democratic forms Wealthy prisoners are prohibited from
purchasing delicacies； or procuring special conveniences； they eat
along with the poor prisoners the same ration； at the common
mess＇112＇。 Bakers have orders to make but one quality of bread； the
brown bread called equality bread； and； to obtain his ration； each
person must place himself in line with the rest of the crowd。 On
holidays＇113＇ everybody