Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-27
EDUCATION
In CALIFORNIA-WHATT THE STATE
OFFERS TO HOME-SEEKERS.
In the Way of Educational Facili-
ties-Statistics for 1886 from
State Reports.

When the Grand Army members visited
Sacramento we took occasion to recount the
educational facilities of the State. What
was then said attracted so much attention,
and received such general reading, and re-
suited in such pleasing inquiry, that our
Judgment was confirmed that one of the
very first things the home-seeker concerns |
himself about is the advantages the couH-
try inviting offers for the education of his
children. The immigrant gauges the civil
izatlon of people quite accurately by their |
concern in free and other schools, and
properly so. We have been induced by
paper on the subject, as peculiarly fitting
aid to the efforts of the people to dissent
nate information concerning northern and
Central California, and induce its rapid and
close settlement by thrifty, industrious,
law-abiding class of people. While the
general considerations must remain the
same, and be treated as in August, we have
the new educational statistics of the State,
which will be presented to the Legislature
soon to assemble in this city.
THE ENDOWMENT
California has given her education sys-
tenn, when her age and strength are consid-
cred, is superior in amount and character
to that of any State of the Union. Where
ever there are ten census children between
the ages of five and seventeen), there the
people are assured a free school will be
maintained. The school funds are appor-
toned among all the districts according to
he ,bar Of hot
seventeen years. The most distant and
least populated county has its share of the
funds. The theory is that the education
of all the people is of interest to all. So
the more populous counties contribute
more to the school fund than they draw
from it. No one can fail to see the Justice
of this arrangement. This does not. of
course, wholly eliminate the question of
local taxation, which in some degree is ne
cessary for the erection of
sCHooL-HoUsEs
And the reinforcement of the bounty of
the State fund. Superintendent Welcker,
in his report for 1886, says: :" If it should
be thought that the expenses of educating
the young people of the State are large, it
may be well to reflect that it is largely due,
IN fact altogether due, to the great extent of
the State, and the thinness of the popula- !
monwealth require that all the children
shall have the opportunities of free edu-
cation, and that ignorance and vice SHALL /
as far as may be, be prevented by the
schools This makes it necessary to spread |
the network of the publicinstruction where
ever there are any people California has
adopted a generous and liberal policy in
the matter, but not more generous and lib
eral than wise. Wherever there is school
district containing ten census children
provision is made for a school, Wherever
there are twenty, the same provision is
made as for seventy census children, and |
the expense will be no more until there
shall be more than seventy, than at pres
emit This will allow for an immense in |
crease of population without an increase !
of expense. Meanwhile, the inestimable |
benefits of education will not have been |
denied to any" Let us now examine |
briefly
THE SCHOOL STATISTICS,
As given in the official report for the year
ending June 30, 1856:
Children between and 1725O,Og7 25g,97S
Children under 5........-.-...... SO, 1853 92,507
Total children under 17.................352,4 S0
Percentage of increase 1885 to lSS6......... 1856
Average attendance upon pub
lie ,73l 1876 ,657
Total children in private schools 1853 1879
Percentage of children attend
ing only private Schools. III 727
Children attending no school,. 57,25i $685.
But these are of course census children, |
those between 5 and and II. Now, the law
authorizes the exclusion from school of all /
under g. In fact, but few under go to |
school. Then, too, between IA and II large |
numbers of children are withdrawn from |
school and put to work.
Children who attended public
schools l7S 100 1S3, 1856
Native-born children under 17-S32,0i7 S44,046 |
Foreign-born children....-........ 5,1lS 5.96S |
Number of school districts. 1854 . 629 |
Number of grammar schools LIB 1882 |
Number Of primary senools...... 2l66 2,2S9 |
Total schools. 1914 3,505
Number enrolled in high
schools or advanced grades. 4,032 1890 |
Number enrolled in grammar
schools. 4g,U3T 4S,5l0
Number enrolled in primary
,0i9 Ia, 52
Districts with school less than
six months. ~ 80
Districts with six but less than
eight months........................-. gag $50
Districts with eight months
school and over. 1,475 LAP
Male teachers. 112i LIPS
Female teachers. 3,i1S 1906
Average salary to male teach
ers per month ...-........-...... SO 81 SO %
Average salary paid female
teachers ...-..-......;.::-......... % 81 % -
periStendentst per year.......1 OBS Is 1O29 So
New school-houses erected....--. 165 1l9 |
In 1884, %; increase over 1884,
23)
Teachers Institutes heidi. 43 45
FINANCIAL sHowINGs.
The States educational financial show
ing is thus reported by Superintendent
Welcker:
1885, 1886.
Balance on hand at be-
ginning of school
Year .....,............ s60i,S 1853 O6 Si62,16 s6
Received from State
apporti0nments..-..-.. 821, SOP 90 1,SS406 OF |
apportionments 1,1l7,227 SO 9a6, 7oS %
Received from city and
district taXes.-......... 577 f32 06 694 Dol Ga |
Received from miscel
Of bonds, rents. etc. $40 IS 1856 IS
Total rcccipts.....sl,lSO .Osl As 81, l75,52s %
1885. 1886.
Total value OF school
property sites, houses
and appsratas U.s. 427,187 25 s8,92O9s4 co
Paid for teachers sal
eSpenses.......... S.o9s,21s 10 8,222, 925 As
Cost OF tuition per
scholar enrolled in
public schools. 10 81 IL OF !
WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM
The school fund is derived from three
sources-State fund, county fund, district |
fund. The State fund is maintained by a |
property tax, the poll-tax and interest on /
certain bonds held in trust for the benefit |
of the schools.
1885. 1886.
Interest on bonds.........s1S7,7 Us Is sl4645s p
Interest on land sales .-..- 34,744 76 $3.50 IS |
Poll 9S $50 IS 2eI l57 rs
DELAYED taxes.............. 122664 50
Sale of geological reports ..-.......-.... SO so |
But there are addenda to the greater
amounts, say the Superintendent, derived |
from taxes on property, which are cheer
fully paid by the sehool-loving people of |