The record-union., 1892-03-18
How IT AFFECTS THE SCHOOLS.
Something About the New Charters
Educational Department.
Freeholder Weinstock Interviewed
The kindergarten-Appo
OF superintendent.

In framing the proposed new charter,
which is shortly to be submitted to the
people for their adoption or rejection, the
Board of Freeholders devoted consider
able attention and discussion to the pub
lie schools and agreed upon a system
which they believed was for the best in
terest of the city and the rising genera
ton. And they embodied that system in
the charter.
There are several radical departures
from the present system of conducting
the schools in the new charter, and in
order that its readers might be informed
as to how these departures are to benefit
the schools, the RECORD UNION detailed
reporter yesterday to look the matter
up.
MR.. WEINSTOCK INTERVIEWED.
The public schools of Sacramento have
not a more watchful guardian and advo-
cate than Harris Weinstock, and while
serving on the Board of Freeholders that
gentleman made numerous eloquent
pleas for the adoption of a system that
would insure progression and advance
ment III educational matters.
In an answer to the reporters question
had provided for the public school sys-
tenn, Mr.. Weinstock said: There are
number of advantages that might be
mentioned. There are some departures
III the new charter concerning the gov
ernment of the schools that stand out in
bold contrast with the defects of the
present system. One serious defect in
the present charter is the election OF the
superintendent Of Schools by the people,
BY virtue of his election the Superintend-
ent IS largely made Independent of the
Board OF Education. So if the Board
OF Education should have one policy
which it desires to have followed out, and
should the Superintendent have another
policy which he is equally anxious to
have followed out in the conduct of the
schools, neither policy, naturally enough,
could be successfully put into force, and
the situation would result in deadlock.
SHOULD PULL TOGETHER.
The experience of most progressive
cities throughout the country con-
tlnued Mr.. WeinStock, has made it
plain that to obtain the highest results in
the common schools there should be
unity of spirit between the Board of Edu-
cation and the Superintendent of Schools,
and that it is, therefore, best to have the
Superintendent selected by the board, as
Is proposed by our new charter. The
power of selecting that officer being
vested in the board it enables it to make
a selection from the entire country, and
IN that way makes it possible for the city
TO secure the services of the best obtain
able talent here or elsewhere. The idea
is TO take the office of Superintendent of
Schools out of politics entirely. You
know, the nominating conventions of the
people must confine themselves, in max
ing selections, to residents of their own
city. While this may be a loyal action,
looking at it in one way, it is often dis
advantage to the schools. We might get
man who is thoroughly qualified to fill
the office, but it does not happen often
and when we do get that sort of man he
has to take his chances at the polls for re-
election, and may possibly be humiliated
by defeat by an inferior man. But this is
all done away with by the proposed new
charter.
SELECTING TEACHERS.
Another serious defect in the present
system, which is remedied by the new
charter, is in the selection of teachers,r
resumed the Freeholder. Teachers are
now frequently elected, not as the result
OF merit, but as the result of political in
fiuence. This is also possible under the
new charter, bat unless the teacher is
qualified for the position she is not likely
to obtain certificate of competency from
the Superintendent at the end of the first
six months, as is provided for by the new
charter, and without which her election
cannot be confirmed.
The new charter also provides for an
important step in the direction of pro-
greSSye education by the establishment
of kindergartens as part of the common
school system. The foremost educators
Of the world now realize the value and
importance of kindergartens, and they
are more and more becoming part of the
common school system. Such California
cities as San Diego and San Jose have al
ready made
THE KINDERGARTEN
Part of their school systems and thew
stand ready 10 testify to the wisdom Of
that step. There are at present in Sacra-
mento three or more kindergartens, sup
ported by private subscriptions, which
are doing excellent work. Their sup
port, however, IS uncertain and pre-
carious, and in the best interests of fu-
lure good citizenship it is essential that
the kindergartens' future should be as
sured by making them part of our COM
mon school system.
1.-The new charter also makes it pos
sible for the Board of Education to Keen
pace with modern educational ideas by
introducing into the schools. whenever
the finances of the city permit it, manual
! training in its various forms. This is not
compulsory. mind you, but the matter is
left to the discretion of the board"
POWERS OF THE BOARD.
The new charter provides that the
Board of Education shall annually make
a statement in detail to the CITY Trustees
OF the probable amount of money that
will be required during the current year.
and for what purposes it is required: and
that the Trustees shalt at the time of lew
ing other city taxes, levy direct special
school tax which will produce a sum
equal TO that asked for by the Board of
Education. The Board of Education.
however, must not exact levy to exceed
twenty-five cents on the SI00, except by
vote OF at least seven members of the
board, and in any event must not exact
| levy of more than thirty cents. 1t is
specially set forth in the charter, though,
that this must not be construed as forbid
ding the City Trustees from levying tax
| in excess of thirty cents for school pur-
poses in case of necessity.
The reporter called Mr.. Weinstock's
attention TO this apparently wide range of
power, and asked him what suggested
the embodying of it in the charter by the
Freeholders.
"Well, under the charter we are at
present governed by" replied Mr.. Vein
stock, there is absolutely no law under
which the Board of Education or Board
of City Trustees can use more than a
fixed amount for school purposes, no
matter how imperatively an increased
amount might be needed Under the
new charter the limit is ordinarily 80
cents on the 500, so far as the Board of
Educaton's demands are concerned: but
If both boards agree that more is neces-
sary, they can raise any amount they see
fit. This, of course, would only apply in
cases of urgency or immediate necessity.
TTp1pr the old chartnr tho limit 49,.