La stratégie de Jules Ferry dans le vote des lois scolaires ; Jules Ferry’s strategy in voting school laws

An analysis of voting for the Education Acts of 1879 and 1886 is presented to illustrate the strategie response of Jules Ferry to specifie institutional, political and parliamentary circumstances. Rather than introduce a single, major, bill he preferred to present a series of minor ones, beginning with the one most likely to have an easy passage. Consequently the moment for discussion of each issue could be selected : after a propitious poll, distanced from legislative matters. This « time serving » delay is counterposed to Radical impatience, to Paul Bert rashness. It resulted in the timely passage of bi/ls while conservative opposition seemed deprived of any strategy, merely blocked into total contestation.