Page "Victor Duruy" Paragraph 4

Among his measures were the reorganization of higher education ( enseignement spécial ), the foundation of the conférences publiques, which became universal throughout France, and of a course of secondary education for girls by lay teachers.

He introduced modern history and modern languages into the curriculum both of the lycées and of the colleges.

He greatly improved the state of primary education in France, and proposed to make it compulsory and free of charge, but failed to obtain the emperor's support for this move.

In the new cabinet that followed the elections of 1869, Duruy was replaced by Louis Olivier Bourbeau, and was made a senator.

After the fall of the Empire he took no part in politics, except for an unsuccessful candidacy for the senate in 1876.

From 1881 to 1886 he served as a member of the Conseil Supérieur de l ' Instruction Publique.

In 1884 he was elected to the Académie française in succession to François Mignet.