The Shasta courier., 1861-11-30
Report of Superintendent of Public Schools
Shasta County.
OFFICE SuPr. PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
Shasta County, Cal, Nov. 20, 1861.

OFFICE SURF PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
Shasta County, Cal, Nov 20, 1861.
To A. J. MouLDER, Superintendent Of Public In
= -sfrssction
DrAK srn-Iu accordance with the require
| nents of rhe law, submit 20 yeu this my annual
yer,ors of the condition of public schools of Shasta
county, for the school year ending Oct 81, 1861.
= take pleasure in being able 10 bear witness to
the indications of prosperity which have marked the
schools of this county during the past year. ana the
general interest manifested the subject OF educa-
ton. The progress of popular education, and the
success of the efforts made to extend its advanta-
ges to all the youth of our country, form subject
Of general to which it is proper at this time
| to direct public attention.
for the year ending Oct. 3ls 1850, there were six
teen school districts containing 1910 children un-
der q years of age; between Is and 81 years, SO;
| between the ages of and is years, and where
schools we're maintained, 75s. OF these, SIS we're
boys, and 3s5 girls. Under years OF age, 4oo.-
| Born in California, 527.
Upon an inspection of the statistical part Of this
vears report 1t will be seen by the of this
| county recently taken, that there are seventeen
school districts, and the whole number of children
under 81 years of age is 1897; between Is and Il
wears 40; between and Is years, entitled to the
| benefits of a common school education, where
| schools have been maintained, $50. Of these, 43o
are bows and $50 are girls. Under years of age,
49S In the county there are 20 more girls than
| boys Born in California, 6ss; deaf and dumb,
none; blind, showing an increase over last year
Of 217 children in the county
/ Twenty-four schools have been held during the
year nineteen public and five private.
Number of children attending public schools, en-
rolled in the county, AS which would be some less
than one half of the county census, whilst the av-
erage daily attendance is considerably less than
this, being only about 500 in the 6ntire county, and
little more than third Of the school census.
The total number Of pupils attending private
schools is 100, which makes an increase over last
| year of ITO scholars.
All the schools taught are primary, except skas-
| ia Union Seminary.
| Total number of calendar months during which
| schools were maintained, so. The schools have
| been kept in session an average OF about SIX
| months Number of male teachers II, and 10 fe-
| male teachers.
Teachers ages vary from is to 35 years; teach
ers' expcrience-number of years in teaching, vary
| from to II years. Only 10 design making teach
| ing a permanent profession.
The full amount of monthly salaries paid teach
ers to the close of the school year 1s6l, Ss6lo-
Number of boys taughtin the district, us; number
| of girls taught, 200. There seventeen school
| houses in the county. Material Of which houses
are built is lumber Valuation of school houses and
| furniture, $3.50. Amount of school fund received
from the State, Sl176 40. Amount of school fund
| received from county taxes, Sl925 So Amount OF
| school lands 1920 95. Amount raised in districts
j by rate bills and private subscriptions, Sl4S3 So
Total receipts for school purposes, 100 90 Total
amount paid for teachers salaries, $500. County,
State and interest from the sales of school lands
! were used in payment of teachers, and the balance
/ of their wages remain unpaid.
Amount expended in erection or repairs of school
| houses $703 SO. Amount expended for school IL
brarics and apparatus, 81. Total expenditures for
| school purposes, S4fS6 ~.
This statistical report is encouraging, as the re-
trospect discloses steady though gradual advance
| in the prosperity and maintainance of our public
schools and the interest in education taken within
| my jurisdiction.
i A comparison of the present condition of the
| county schools with that of the previous year,
evinces no diminution of interest, but rather the
! evidences of a healthful and gratifying advance
ment The whole number of pupils taught during
the last year. was reported to be 35S it reach
es 1885, In the former, the daily average attend
ance was 2l6, while during the latter 1t has been
900.
Notwithstanding the large increase Of children in
the county, of the whole noumber only AIS have
enioyed the benefits of the school system this year
| against 35Slast year.
In the length of time during which schools have
been maintained, we find much reason for encour-
| arcmeut and congratulation. The whole number
of school months in the 16 districts, last year,
| IL and the average term months. Now we are
enabled to report the total number of months dur
ing which our county schools have been maintained
at so months, or an average Tor the 10 distrlcs o
about months.
, Last year the amount raised in the several dis
| tricts for school purposes, $1,000; during the
past twelve months it has risen to S250e. This is
an indication auspcious of better state Of things
for the future As the schools increase in number
greater will be the increase of private expenditures
raised by cheerful and liberal contributions Of indi-
viduas to supply the deficiency which the meager
ness of the public fluids had created
I'VE haveGuch to encourage us; for although oul
work has Just fairly commenced, it is progressing
little more energy and enterprise, little more o.
, the selfsacrifcing spirit among the people, and
4 our schools would assume position worthy of @
i ! comparison with those of Older and more favored
Il States What we most need are suitable schoo
| couyeniences. Although each district mas wooden
school house, they destitute OF all attraction;
/ for the pupils both within and without. However
thew arc on an average, quite as good as could ht
sxnected under the circumstances. good schoo
house, with maps, libraries and apparatus within
and ornamental shade trees to ward of the rays O.
the sum- is essential to the good breeding OF oul
children School houses should be agreeable anc
t attractive instead of gloomy and repulsive.
The attendance Of pupils at public schools has
t improved over last year. The principal cause O
non-attendapce is the want of strict parental au
tboritv and also lack their part to pay for tn
, ;t;on Another is dislike to, and want of conf
dence in TEACHERS Mady of the scholars are small
and reside long way from the school, and they
grow up thew come long distance Some less than
ope-baf of the children between four and eighteer
wears of age in this county. have attended sehoo
during the past year. and less than one-fourth ha:
been the daily average attendance
: Some of our school districts are very large. en-
f bracinc a whole .ownship. The scattered popula
tiou and the almost nomadic life that many of Ou
people lead and the smallness of the school fund
make it difficult for parents of limited means to keel
their children in regular attendance. Owing to thu
same cause our schools are almost necessarily of 4
mixed character Shasta school district is the only
one in the county where schools graded il
fact there is no necessity for them for the reason
that no one locality is able to maintain puralit,
of teachers.
There are many obstacles in the way to hinde
the nrorress of common school education. 1rregu
larity Of the puplls-short terms and frequent sus
pension of the schools-frequent changes of teach
ers-a want of money TO pay them, and want o
suitable accommodations and concentration Thes
evils go together, and should be remedied
During the past year, n few schools have elose'
, with short examination Teachers, In some Q
the schools provide premiums and rewards for th'
4 children This has good effect, as ii keeps upth
, spirit of emulation, so well calculated to advane
a the children.
The schools of this county have advanced
large per cent in the standard of teaching IN edu
cational ability the part of teachers. and IN ia
cilities and accommodations for common schooi ed
ucation Twenty two teachers have been employ
ed during the year-twelve male and ten female.
c Perhaps ten Of our teachers are deslrous OF max
d ing teaching permanent profession. Eight OF ID
teachers have spent from five 10 twelve years In IN