The record-union., 1894-10-03
STATE EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
The Superintendent of Public Instruc-
TONS Report,
Some Figures Showing What an Inter-
est is Taken by the People in
Our Public Schools.

superintendent of Public instruction
y. w. Anderson has presented his bien-
NAL report to Governor Mark ham.
In it he says that nothing can more
fully indicate the regard of the peo-
pie of California for the great in
Ierests of public education and the great
esteem in which they hold the system of
American free schools than the fact that
Notwithstanding the depression that has
prevailed in all kinds of business, there
has not been manifested the least lack of
interest in, or effort for, the success of
the schools. The people have been will
ing. without complaint, to tax them
selves literally, not only for the main
tenance of the primary and grammar
schools, but also for the organization and
support OF system of high schools that
might form connecting link between
the former and our noble university.
Nor has there been manifested any
where upon the part of governing Boards
OF Education or Boards of Trustees any
disposition TO lower the salaries paid to
teachers. On the contrary, these boards
show Willingness to pay good salaries
Tor good talent and good service. 1t is
gratifying to know that the boards gen.
orally are growing stronger in the belief
that the Importance attaching to the
proper education of the children of the
State demands the very best talent on the
part of the teaching force.
There is determination shown, too, to
Eave the best of school appliances, and
school district taxes are voted cheertully
and readily, as we'll as those for high
schools. The evidences of interest and
progress are noticeable in every part of
the State as far as the schools are con-
cerned, and the people are becoming
year by year more fully alive to these
important interests and more jealous Of
any innovations or regulations that would
tend to weaken the influence or retard
the progress of the schools. The great
activity and interest manifested of late
years in Teachers Institutes and asSOcia-
tions is gratifying. 10 the annual gath
erlngs OF the teachers In the State Teach
ers' Association and in the County lnsti-
tutes is attributed very much of the zeal
characterZing the teachers of the State in
their efforts to advance themselves TO a
still higher degree OF perfection in the
discharge of their responsible duties to
the people and the children OF the peo-
pie. By the interchange of ideas the
teachers and people are brought nearer
together and enabled to understand each
other better. He considers the mony used
for institutes as well spent and returning
a large reward for itself.
Proceeding to figures, he states from
the last report of the Controller the total
amount OF funded securities held in trust
by the State Treasurer for the State school
fund is s., S33, 400. The interest on this,
with the interest on deferred payments
on school lands, poll taxes, taxes and col
lateral lnherltanceS and amounts re-
ceived from State, county and railroad
taxes, constitutes the school revenue.
In addition TO the revenue raised from
4toa.a how cN1l no fnfo oil for.
school purposes includes the taxes levied
by the various cities and school districts
throughout the State. The total amount
of moneys received for the support OF the
primary and grammar schools of the
State for the two school years ending
June 80, 1894, is ST.. los, ,5lz Il, and the
expenditures Sll, ia, $50 II, all excess of
expenditures over The previous two years
of S610, ,0SS IL, leaving d balance OF ST.
OBI OBJ 50. The balance carried over TO
the school year beginning July l, 1894,
according to the reports of the County
Superintendents, is Sl,0l5,573 %, making
a discrepancy OF SlS, ,40S 80. This can
only be accounted tor by the fact that
errors have occurred in reporting the
balances on the part of several County
Superintendents, and by the further fact
that confusion has been caused by the
opinion of Attorney General Hart, that
moneys apportionei in July of any year
belong to the year ending June 30th pre-
ceding, which is undoubtly correct, as
the moneys arise from interest and taxes
levied for the preceding year.
If we add TO the S1l, ,134, 4S0 27 expended
the S25l, ,6l5 73 expended for the three
Normal schools, the $500, ,S33 5S expended
for support and improvement of the State
University, and the S712, ,957 expended for
the support of high schools, it gives a
grand total of ST., ,454, $50 5S expended in
the cause of public education in this State
during the two fiscal years ending June
30, 1894, a grand evidence of the estima-
tion in which the people of California
hold this grand cause.
The Legislature of 1898 raised the mini
mum of county taxes for the schools
from 81 to S6, but there has been very
little complaint, showing that the people
are willing to contribute for education.
He pays a high compliment to his Chief
Clerk, Nj. Z. stone, and the Text Book
Clerk, l.. NJ. Atkinson, for the zeal eili-
cheney and care with which they have
discharged their duties, and the result of
which has occasioned the freedom from
complaint which has characterized his
administration.
The report gives attention to needed re-
forms and amendments to the school
law, a history of the textbook work and
sales and many other matters connected
with the office. One thing is noticeable
for the first time in the history of the
office the amount received Tor diplomas
exceeds the expenditures, and shows
them as a source Of income to the State
The contingent fund was not all ex-
pendedi by him, leaving balance of 80
per cent. uneXpended, and of the 81, 200
appropriated for his travelling expenses,
1923 50 remains uneXpended-an unusual
occurrence in public offices.