Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-04

The gratifying report of the increased value of the
assessment OF the property OF the State is due III
mart to the steady growth Of the State and in great
measure to the lively public interest in the subject
of taxation excited BY the discussion upon the new
Constitution and partly to the efforts of the State
Board the members Of which have devoted them
selves to the performance OF their duty with COM
meadable zeal
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
In 4 government of the people the education OF
the people is the prime factor-a self-evident and
paramount necessity.
The superintendent OF Public Instruction presents
n full and int, resting report of public schools,
which commend to you for attentive Investigation
This department Of the State-the education OF
her ehildren-s one Of the most important, not only
as to the future Of the State, but also OF the vast
sums of money required lover So 600 600 annually
to properly discharge this great duty to those who
in few years. must take places in the various
vocations and duties of life The people of Cafor-
MIA only wish to know that their money is expended
wisely and iudiciOusly, and they Will never cease to
resnrd to every proper call for keeping in vigorous
action the common schools and placing within the
reach OF the humblest Of her children the advan-
tages of fair education for they realize that pop
| ular liberty and popular education have ever thus
o-one hand in hand aud side by SIDE and the child
educated in the one is educated in the other; it is
part of the country in which he lives, of the hamlet
in which he was born it is part of his birthright,
/ and is above party, sect or creed
| The higher the average intelligence OF COM
/ munIty the higher its civilization.
| Now il is in the common schools that the people
| find the paths which lead upward and forward to
that light OF intelligence which Is the castone OF
republican government.
+ Following the lllustrious example Of the Older
States OF the Union the trainers of the organic Act
| which first gave to this Western community tbs
! form and aspect of a body polite, and nodded the
elements Of empire into new commonwealth,
/ properly recognized, and gave a fitting place e
popular education in the instrument under thei
consideration.
1iN
year lsI9 by and in virtue of clause in the State
Constitution.
| On the 26th of December Of the same year the
first public school was opened in San Francisco with
three scholars one two private schools had beer
open the previous year, but the practical beginning
| and age Of our common schools may be computes
from Christmas 1S49. Th!rtyou one years have sincs
! elapsed and the average daily attendance now il
| thousand. The value of public school property Ii
about 81 ,000, 000
While the foregoing figures are attering evidences
! OF our advancement as community, the fact thai
limit of school age, have not attended any school,
not only unsatisfactory, but also presents most
serious and alarming problem.
Ii il is the duty of the State to the citizen to edu
cate or to furnish facilities needed for the education
of his children, is IL not an equal obligation on the
part of the parent to the State that his children
should be educated not simply for his or their bene
fit but In the interest OF the common wcalg With
large part of the children in every community, the
first subordnation to SYSTEM the first perception Of
law and order which they receive, is in the common
! schools.
| Whether legislation which shall enforce attend
ance is Observation-Disclosures any form OF compulsory
law should be enacted-demands consideration from
the thoughtful citizen.
As TO what should be the number or limit oil
studies in the common schools, is another and en-
ceedingy important question upon which there is
wide difference of opinion. There is prevalent
sentiment, which is held by large and intelligent
portion of the community, that at present too many
studies are pursued and that for this the pub
lie school is losing its original dis motive elementary
character in the attempt to raise it to highschoo
or academy standard. If it is the case urged by
some, that thoroughness is sacrificed in the attempt
I to impart wider curriculum, may not the fault
have arisen or grown out OF the inconsiderate
biton of the parents rather than from the desire OF
the TEACHER
| The State has, at great expense, provided Nor
NAL School for the special purpose of educating
teachers for the common school. The annual run
ming expense of this institution is about sS4, 900
per annum. have no reason to doubt but the ill.,
vestment is both wise and judicious. But / submit
it is from those teachers who graduate at this school
that the State has right TO expect and demand
such remedial suggestions as will correct al evils, if
arY exist, in the 81 stem Of teaching.
% No community will ever rise en- barbarism to
civilization except along the road 10 industry"
This may be regarded as axiom as true that
ideness is the parent OF crime" 1t by means
follows that those only are laborers who labor with
their hands, that only those industrious who
follow the so called industrial pursuits.
The greater number in every community must
earn their bread by manual labor In the number
Of absentees from the common schools, the ordi-
nary number of the unemployed, and the prevalence
of vicious aud idle voIth in all OF the principal
communities of our State, we see conspieuously
presented the necessity for an educat on differ
entiated from what is taught in schools, in
the direction OF trade or mechanical instruction
schools where some Of the useful arts should be
impaired 10 sufficient extent, degree of
thoroughness, so that, in addition to the common
elementary branches Of an English education, the
pupil can obtain reasonable knowledge OF some Of
the ordinary trades; by which he may be the better
able to obtain livelihood and have, by much, a
better start in the race OF life am not prepared
to suggest plan Tor the organization OF schools OF