Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-01

had almost phenomenal growth and de.
velopment during the past twenty-five
years. This will be most forcibly shown
by comparing the statistics of the fiscal
years 1868 and 1888:
Length OF term mons Isl mons
Number of schools 1854 OOg
Number of districts.......... 6s4 27l2
NUMBER OF teachers....... 9l9 1895
Children enrolled. $3.50 on O5G
Census children, to.lS 7S,O55
Census children, 5 TO 17................ go. 500
Total expenditures....,.S 4s4 $40 50 S2l 3si Sc
This is large sum, and it seems appro
PIRATE that at least once in two years we
should take our latitude and departure and
ascertain, as best we can, whether this vast
amount is being expended to the best pos
sible advantage; whether we reach all chill
dren that ought to be reached; whether the
education We arc giving those we do reach
Is as practical as it ought to be and might
be; whether we are not undertaking too
much to do everything we'll: whether our
courses OF study may not be too complex
Tor the comprehension of all; whether we
are insulting endurable principles and not
examining with facts for temporary pur-
poses; whether we are educating the chill
dren IN all directions, and not tending too
much to intellect alone; whether we are
doing all that should be done in moral train
ing and physical culture; whether we are
cultlvating IN the minds and hearts of our
children true patriotic spirit and true
love of country; whether or not the State
should offer some encouragement TO indus
trial or manual training schools; ard
whether or not we ought 10 provide State
Reformatory for such youth as are fast be-
coming 1ncorrlgible, and are yet of school
able age, who may have committed crimes.
instead OF putting them into prisons with
hardened criminals and thus DESTROYING
them for life. These are vital problems in
our educational work which cannot be de-
termined by any one person, nor any one
class of persons. The brightest minds and
best intelligence should be brought to bear
upon them, to the end that California shall
occupy no second place in the nation as re-
CARDS her educational system.
SCHOOL POPULATION.
The present school population of Califor-
MA, which includes children between the
ages of five and seventeen Years, is go, 800,
as shown by the census returns OF County
Superintendent. The census returns Of
1887 gave 272 AS as the number of census
children in the State, thus showing a de-
crease OF 1,94S in the total number enrolled
since 1887. This showing is occasioned By
discrepancy In the census returns from
San Francisco, between the years 1887 and
1888. In 1888 the returns from that city
gave the number of census children as
1926, while the census of 1883 gave only
80 7l3, a decrease of 1888. The census
returns of 1888 from all counties except
San Francisco show a total increase over
the year 1887 of 1855
The ahova fiur1raS 5iaar1- indicate ~
necessity of careful revision of the plan
Tor taking the
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The office of School Census Marshal
should be in no case conferred upon any
one for the purpose of returning political
favors. None but persons known to be
capable and strictly reliable should be in
trusted with that important work The
law should be so amended as to prevent
the census-taking anywhere, as has been
done in some districts at so much per
capita. Such plan is direct temptation
if not direct bid for dishonest report.
There are l ,112 teachers now teaching in
the State Who are holders of life diplomas,
and 74S who hold educational diplomas
The total value of school property in the
State is estimated at $40 563, $50.
SCHOOL REVENUE.
The securities held in trust by the State
Treasurer for the school fund, according to
the latest report to this Office by the State
Controller: State and county bonds,
S2,975, 800; cash awaiting investment. S21,-
127 u; total permanent fund, 50 996 627 II.
The interest of this permanent fund, to-
gether with the amount derived from State,
county, and district school taxes constitute
the school revenue.
School revenue from all sources in
81 40 1S
School revenue from all sources in
1888. AS 81
increase s5sO,ol3 Oh
Amount expended in 1sS7.........-SS $50, SSS II
Amount expended in 32l,9sl so
Increase. ........... slSl,4s SO
Notwithstanding this is large invest
ment il is nevertheless, cheaper and better
to build schools, and build character
therein, than to build prisons, and main
tain them filed with criminals.
Every citizen ought to feel a lively per-
sonal interest in the employment of this
fund, and direct interest in the results
These results should annually show a
clear profit 10 the decrease of crime and
pauperism, and in the increase of civic
ability and industrial power. No matter
from what standpoint we look at it. we
cannot overestimate the magnitude OF the
interest involved. The people must see 10
it that no danger overtakes our public
schools from careiess1ess or indifference in
their management.
A CREDIT TO CALIFORNIA
II must be set down to the credit of Cali
fornia that she pays her teachers higher
average salary than any other State in the
Union, though the Principals in our large
cities receive less than the Principals of
like schools in some Of the large cities at
the East.
II is also to the credit of the State that
the same salary is paid to women teachers
as to men, when doing the same or similar
service
Considering the population, age, and re-
sources OF California. it is believed that no
other State has made more liberal educa-
tional provisions nor have the provisions
been more wisely administered. nor more
equal and lasting in their results and bene-
fIs.
COUNTY suPERINTENDENTs.
State Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton Ira g. Holt, in speaking upon the
subject of salaries of County Snperintend.
ents, says:
No officer in the State is of more import
ance to the community in which his duty
calls him than the County Superintendent
of Schools. He shold be required to give
his whole time and attention to the schools
OF his county, and he should receive ade-
quate compensation for the important serv.
ices rendered and the responsibility
assumed. He superyises to-day the train
ing OF the citizens of tomorrow. The PEG
pie expect him to be, and he should be,
man capable OF leading directing, encour
aging broadening, strengthening and ele
waiting the character of the community il
which he lives But the people have nC
hight to expect the best and most elficien
service for the poorest pay. Nor more thar
one of our County Superintendent receive
what may be called liberal salary for hi
services. Besides, many. if not most of tn
superintendent are required to pay thei
own travelling expenses from the ~ ttanc,