Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-27
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These are the counties which may prop
erfy be included in the region to which the
Central and Northern California Immigra-
ton Association devotes itself, and
these are the amounts each of them have
used in the school year of 1856 in the
cause of free education; a showing, we sub
nit, that is highly creditable. In those
counties there are employed l POI teachers,
out of the 4,444 employed in the whole
State. In this calculation it will be noted
that the exclusion leaves out San Fran
cisco, with its 773 teachers, and the popu-
lous coast counties, for we are treating only
of the area Immediately within and d.
rectly related to the Sacramento basin.
WISE PROVISION.
The careful reader will have observed
that the State of California has wisely pro-
vided for the future in the matter of edu-
cational endowment; that we have pro-
vided for an immense increase of popula-
ton without any increase of expense to
the taxpayers, and this fact must strike the
newcomer with especial force Ia every
county there is a School Superintendent,
and in cities there are city or local Super
intendents. At the head of our system
stands tie University of California, at
Berkeley, ranking equal with the best
State Universities, and in many respects
being recognized as one of the most ad-
vanced institutions of the day. 1t is COM
posed of a group of colleges, including
agricultural, mechanical, medical, dental
law, pharmaceutical, classical, scientific and
a college of letters. Besides the handsome
endowment of the University by the Gen.
eral Government, many private donations
have been made to it, and handsome build
nrantn1 cna0ial 4
stocked by the munifcence of private
wealth. In addition, the State, with a
boundless pride in the University, every
two years literally appropriates funds for
its enlargement and the extension of its
usefulness. 1t is a well-equipped institu-
ton, with a large faculty of capacity not
surpassed by that of any similar Uni
versity. There are institutions
MAINTAINED BY THE STATE
For the deaf. dumb and blind, and one for
the adult blind, all thoroughly equipped.
There are twenty orphan asylums, with
schools, in the State, all aided by the State.
There are now before the people the ques-
tons of reform schools, work schools, and
shelters for the unfortunates who are not
orphans. There are many private institu-
TONS such as Boys and Girls Aid So
cieties, Girls Shelters, kindergarten schools,
and the like, supported handsomely by pri-
vate donations. There are numerous
church schools and church colleges. To at
tempt to enumerate, name and state the To-
cation of the many colleges and schools
would make this sketch too extended for
popular reading There are also colleges of
medicine, surgery, business; also theological
universities and academies, that have
yielded to this people some of the best
talent in the pulpit in the State.
ART SCHOOLS.
Besides several private art schools, there
is at San Francisco a large art institution
under the auspices of the San Francisco
Art Association. The scholars number
from 60 to 80 per term in drawing paint
ing, modelling, etc. 1t is under the tutor
ship of Virgil Williams, welI-known art
tutor. AT Sacramento the California Mu-
scum Association maintains a similar and
thoroughly equipped school. in the Z. B.
Croker Art Gallery belonging to the city.
The teachers are w. +. Jackson and Chas.
J. Carlson, competent instructors and ar
fists of established high repute. The school
is less than a year old, but has averaged
from 60 to so pupils per term. The school
most beautifully adorned art school-room
in the world. The Crocker Art Gallery
was the gift of Mrs. E. B. Croker to the
city of Sacramento, and it is cared for and
its affairs administered jointly by the city
and the Museum Association.
LIBRARIES, ETC.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that the
State is admirably supplied with free libra
ries, the State Library at Sacramento stand
ing first, and the Mercantile Library at
town and city free libraries, and a large
number maintained by Orders and Socie-
ties. Among the great educational features
of the State is the Lick Observatory, on
Mount Hamilton, in Santa Clara county,
which is due to the beneficence of the late
James Lick. 1t is very nearly finished, and
when completed will be the largest astro-
nomical observatory in the world, and
fitted with the most powerful instruments
the genius OF man has ever produced. Its
main instrument will bear the largest
glasses ever made. It's location is deemed
owing to its altitude and the dry, clear at
mosphere, the best known. The President
of the State University, Professor Holden,
distinguished astronomer, will hold the
intimate relation of Director and Curator
of the Observatory.
STATE SCHOOL BOOKS.
The State is engaged in printing the most
of the books to be used in the primary and
grammar schools, and these are to be fur
nished to the people at cost. This system
is new, but believed to be the best possible
to be adopted.
Concerning the books thus far prepared
the official report for 1886 of the State Su-
perintendent says: THE only works ofthe
series which have up to this time been sub
mitted to the public examination are the
Speller, First Reader and Third Reader
So far nothing has been heard but hearty
concentrations of the educational and
mechanical features of the work and
among these admirers it is but fair to saw
there are some who were among the strong
opposers of the scheme and who predicted
a miserable failure. The State series of
text books is to be uniform throughout the
State. This feature is excellent and so
plain to view that no voice has been raised
against it. But so much scandal has ga
thered about the supply of the public
schools with textbooks, SO many charges
of corruption alleged TO have been done by
the book houses among school officers,
school Boards and Legislatures, that many
persons would be well satisfied with text
books published under the scheme now
under consideration, even were they some
what inferior in quality and more expen-
sive in cost than those heretofore in use.
But the
COST OF THE BOOKS
Is one of the most gratifying things con-
nected with the enterprise. The cost at
Sacramento as determined by the State
Board of Education of the books now fur
nished is as follows Speller and Word
Analysis, 20 cents First Reader. 125 pages,
10 cents; Second Reader, 228 pages, 30
cents Third Reader, 512 pages, 40 cents
The series of Readers, covering sub
stantially the same ground as those hereto
fore in use, will cost but eighty-five cents,
while the price of Baneroft's is 81 so, Nc
Gdffey's is 81 90, Appletons s., and SWIM
toms So 05i The series of the State costs
but little more than one-t third of the price
of the cheapest of the above! Here is tri-
umphant success not dreamed of by the
most hopeful of the friends of the enter
prise. This success will save the pockets
of the people millions of dollars in few
wears And This iS mot to ba u-ordarad