Originally established in 1808 byEmperor of the FrenchNapoleon as a decoration to honour eminent members of theUniversity of Paris, it was changed into its current form as anorder of merit on 4 October 1955 by PresidentRené Coty, making it one of the oldest civil honours bestowed by the French Republic.[2]
The originalPalmes académiques was instituted byNapoleon on 17 March 1808.[3] In this sense, it shares its origins with theLegion of Honour which Napoleon had established shortly before.[4]Palmes académiques was established to decorate people associated with the university, including high schools (lycées).[3][5] It was not anorder as such, but atitle of honour identifiable by its insignia sewn on the recipients' costumes.[6] It was bestowed only upon teachers or professors.[2][7] The original decoration included three classes:[6]
Titulaire – gold palm sewn on white silk;
Officier l'Université – silver palm sewn on white silk;
Officier d'Académie – blue palm sewn on white silk.
TheTitulaires were limited to the grand masters of the university, chancellors, treasurers, and councilors for life. TheOfficiers de l'Université were ordinary councilors, university inspectors, rectors, academy inspectors, deans and faculty professors. TheOfficiers d'Académie were headmasters, censors, teachers of the two most distinguished classes of high schools, principals of colleges, and, in exceptional cases, high school teachers or college regents. Those working inprimary education were ineligible.[6]
On 9 October 1850, the number of classes was reduced to two:[6][1]
Officier de l'Instruction Publique (Golden Palms);
Officier d'Académie (Silver Palms).
Only those working in education for at least 15 years were eligible. The decoration was conferred by theMinister of Public Instruction on the proposal of rectors after having consulted academic councils.[6]
In 1866,Napoleon III, prompted by Minister of Public InstructionVictor Duruy, widened the scope of the award to include non-teaching persons who had otherwise made contributions to education[5][6] and culture, including foreigners. It was also made available to Frenchexpatriates who made major contributions to learning or education in the wider world.[citation needed]
The presentOrdre des Palmes académiques was instituted on 4 October 1955 by PresidentRené Coty. In 1963 the French system of orders was reformed under PresidentCharles de Gaulle. A number of so-called "ministerial orders" were consolidated into theOrdre national du Mérite. De Gaulle, however, was fond of theOrdre des Palmes académiques and decided to keep it as a separate order.[6] Since 1955, theOrdre des Palmes académiques has had three grades,[3] each with a fixed annual number of new recipients or promotions:[5]
Commander (Commandeur) – gold palm of 60 mm surmounted by a laurel wreath (couronne) worn on necklet,[2] limited to 280 annually;[5]
Officer (Officier) – gold palm of 55 mm worn on ribbon withrosette on left breast,[2] limited to 1523 annually;[5]
Knight (Chevalier) – silver palm of 50 mm worn onribbon on left breast,[2] limited to 4547 annually.[5]
The order is conferred for services to the universities, in teaching or in scientific work.[3] It can be conferred on both French citizens, including those residing abroad, and foreigners. The minimum age of conferment is 35 years. Promotion to a higher grade usually requires five years in the lower rank.[5] The order is administered by a council whose president is theMinister of National Education.[3] Decisions on nominations and promotions are proposed by the minister and formally decided by thePrime Minister. Decisions are announced annually on 1 January,New Year's Day and 14 July,Bastille Day.[5] For those not connected to state-sponsoredpublic education, or theMinistry of National Education, the announcements are made on New Year's Day and for all others on Bastille Day.[citation needed] In 2018, the annual quotas were cut by almost half to their present level.[5]
Louis Dewis, born Isidore Louis Dewachter in Belgium. Merchant and later a post-impressionist painter, he was honoured for his civic endeavors in the early 1900s
Allan L. Goldstein, American biochemist and co-discoverer of the Thymosins
Ralph M. Hester, Professor of French, Stanford University, co-author ofDécouverte et Création, the most widely used textbook for teaching French in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.[14]
Francis L. Lawrence, American educator and scholar specializing in French literature; classical drama and baroque poetry, President ofRutgers University 1990–2002[15]
Ahmad Kamyabi Mask, Iranian littérateur, writer, translator, publisher and Professor Emeritus of Modern Drama and Theater of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Tehran
Abdon Laus, Algerian-American bassoonist and saxophonist, principal bassoon of Boston Symphony Orchestra, played noted bassoon solo at the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring
Léopold Sédar Senghor,[7] Senegalese poet, theoretician of Négritude, first President of Senegal (1960–80), and the first African to be elected as a member of the Académie française
Kathryn (Katy) Sheely Wheelock, American educator of the French language, Executive Council Regional Representative & Vice President of the American Association of Teachers of French (2017-2024), founder of Vive l'expérience, an organization promoting French immersion experiences in the French-speaking world for educators and students
Ali-Akbar Siassi, Iranian intellectual and psychologist who served as the country's Foreign Minister, Minister of Education and Chancellor of theUniversity of Tehran.
Javad Tabatabai, Iranian philosopher and political scientist, Professor and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran[16]
Buddy Wentworth, Namibian deputy education minister, for his contributions to the Namibian independence struggle[17]
Andrea Zitolo, Italian physical-chemist and material scientist
A. Majeed Khan, Bangladeshi educator for education, science and culture.[19]
Michael Hawcroft, Associate Professor of French at the University of Oxford, a specialist in Racine and Molière. Notable former students include L. Inglesfield andGeoffrey Roberts.[20]
^abcHieronymussen, Poul Ohm (1970).Orders, medals, and decorations of Britain and Europe in colour. London, U.K.: Blandford Press. p. 162.ISBN978-0-7137-0445-7.OCLC768124951.
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