Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-04

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The average Californian will scarcely
admit that there is, either in this world
or the next, anything better or more de-
sirable in the way of climate, scenery,
food, fruit, flowers or situation, than is
to be found within the limits of the
golden state.
California fruit, flowers and climate
are things which have been talked
about considerably. They are excellent
subjects of conversation, and will never
fail to inspire an exiled citizen to
eloquence; but Californians have as
much reason to be proud of their school
system as of the climate and other gifts
of nature, as it is the result of their own
efforts, and the legislation compelled by
the level-headed demands OF citizen
ship composed of the best elements of
eastern society transplanted on the
Pacific slope years ago, when the tide of
immigration first set in.
A HERALD reporter has been engaged
for some time past in sounding citizens
OF Los Angeles who are otherwise well
informed, as to their knowledge of the
public school system of the state, and
finds their information very scanty in
the matter. 1t is therefore proposed to
publish series of articles on our local
temples of knowledge, which are to be
commenced this week, and which are to
be continued until the Angelefios shall
know how, what and where his offspring
10 fo1nht frnr, tho fs,,,a
age where the kindergarten department
takes the child in charge, to the time
when the High school turns the student
out fitted to enter the State university.
Can you go to any state in the union
and travel through sparsely settled terri
tory, finding school-houses as we'll built,
as we'll provided with teachers, maps,
apparatus and books as they are in the
cities? California schools are 80 built
and so provided. In fact, the country
schools frequently have the advantage
of those in the cities, for the reason that
many cities have grown 80 rapidly
as to overcrowd their schools and
compel many make-shift arrange
ments and shorter hours until
new buildings could be erected.
Are you aware Of the fact that teachers
from other states, when attempting to
qualify as teachers in California, almost
invariably fail to pass an examination
in the same grade as they hold certifi-
Gates for in the east, for the reason that
examinations here are far more severe
and require better education ON the part
OF the teacher than in any other part
of the world? There is no teaching
school by people here who are unfit for
any other profession, and therefore take
upon themselves the training of ou chill
dren, for a consideration.
Do you remember the old school house
where you studied, perspired and suf-
fered in years gone by? Of course you
do, and your back itches and your head
aches as you think first of the masters
switch, and then of the dry, uninterest-
ing and phenomenally impractical stu
dies. Now, while the memory is fresh
upon you, call your little boy or girl to you
and put the child through civil service
examination as to the way the teaching
is done here. The children are the
same, but the teaching is different.
The studies are made so attractive that
we should almost like to go to school
again ourselves. The children actually
get tired of vacations, now that they are
more numerous than they once were,
and yet, in spite of all this, and in spite
of the long recess and short school
hours, our children learn faster and re-
member more than we did,. ~
Perhaps you don't think there is much
difference in the studies themselves?
Well, take the standard studies. In
geography did you ever hear of a sand
table or a raised map when you were a
child? Put the child of today through
! ~, &c
quire in few minutes more hard,
practical, useful information about any
particular country about which the
with all your age, knowledge and
experience possessed before. The child
may not be able to reel off list of the
| little bayous, dignified by the name of
rivers, or the postofices called towns on
map, but why should anyone spend
time in acquiring such information?
Take a newspaper and the great cities
are the ones referred to throughout,
smaller ones are spoken of as near such
place, but the world outside of small
circle has no interest in, or knowledge
of, the small town, so why should the
scholar spend time in slowing away
mass of useless facts?
Take any other standard study and
you will soon find that the schools of
California are not employed 80
much in filling child's head
with facts as in training the child for
place in practical world which has no
room for knowledge aside from it's USE
fulness in bringing profit or pleasure to
the community. How the school sys-
tenn is operated, what are its points OF
difference from the systems in vogue in
other states, and how and what your
children are taught, are all facts worth
knowing, and some OF the facts, at least,
the HERALD will attempt to give in
series of articles devoted to the schools
of this city.
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