Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-18
THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND HE UHI
YERSITY.

Under the new Constitution the common
school course ends with the Grammar
Schools. The State scheme of education
goes 60 further. If any community de-
sires High Schools it must provide for them
by special taxation. So far as the State is
concerned the educational system stops at
the point indicated. The absurdity of this
arrangement is conspicuous. No provision
is made by the State for any further in
struction than can be obtained in the
Grammar Schools; yet the State maintains
University, which is supposed to be sup
ported for the benefit of the people. 1t is
impossible to go from the Grammar Schools
to the University; but no measures are
provided for bridging the chasm. Califor-
MIA in fact has mutilated school system.
1t has head and a tail, but its middle has
been cut out. Whoever, therefore, does
not happen to live in the larger cities which
possess High Schools, must, if he wishes
his children to go through the University,
either send them to San Francisco. or Sac.
ramento, or San Jose, or Los Angeles, to
attend the High Schools, or must place
them in some private college or academy to
be prepared for the University. 1t follows
that people who do not live within easy
reach of High School are practically dis
eliminated against by the State educational
system, and that they are not given an
equal share in the advantages provided.
This Is a matter which calls for
reform, and though a change can
only be had through the amendment
OF the Constitution, such amendment
ought to be proposed as soon as possible.
The stupid Convention that framed the
Constitution could not or would not see
that it was dismembering the educational
system by providing that the High Schools
should not be supported out of the achool
fund. They appear to have thought that
they were somehow vindicatipg their de.
mooracy, in showing that they had no
sympathy with the higher education. But
to be consistent they ought to have abol.
ished the State University, for such an in.
stitution is of very little use so long as it
is cut off from the other educational ma
chinery. In fact the Constitutional Con
vention Disseminated against the poor and
in favor of the rich, in this matter. By
their action they reserved the University
for the sons of rich men, and decreed that
poor men should have nothing more than
Grammar Schools. And in fact it is ap-
parent that the poor cannot and Go not
send their children to the University,
though if the establishment really belongs
to the people it ought to be open to all |
alike. The Convention really struck !
very severe blow at the rights and oppor- |
tunities of the people in this regard In |
a democracy education ought to be placed |
within reach of all, and it is useless to |
erect State Universities unless they are |
made available to the children of the hum
blest citizen. Elsewhere it has been one of |
the most precious possessions of the Ameri- |
can citizen that he could secure for his chit |
dren thorough education at light cost.
But here in California the GROWING edifice |
of the State educational system has been |
deliberately insulated, and those only can |
avail themselves of its advantages who can |
command means above the average. 1t Is
necessary to the success of the educational |
system that every part of it should be |
equally accessible TO all. That cannot be |
the case until High Schools are included in |
the regular course, and their maintenance
is made obligatory. 1t is the merest non-
sense to pretend that the University is |
popular institution while the people are |
practically excluded from it. 1t is not less
absurd to argue that the people do not
want High Schools. For if in truth they |
do not want High Schools, then SO much |
the less do they need University. To |
maintain the latter aud 70 abandon the |
former is irrational and indefensible in the |
eYtreme