The record-union., 1895-08-26
EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA.

The San Francisco Chronicle in it's
issue of August 10Th performed a very
signal service for the State of California
by the publication of twelve-page sup
plement. devoted entirely to the eduoa-
tional opportunities of the State of Cali
fornia. The time has passed when men
relinquish the higher and better op-
portunities afforded by modern civiliza-
tion for inferior social and educational
advantages. AS rule emigration is in
duced in the hope of bettering the flnan-
cial condition of the emigrant. But uni
versal education is necessity of modern
life and men of family are reluctant to
leave the older civilizations of the CONT
nept for primitive or pioneer conditions.
That California has public school
system comparable with the best among
the States of this nation is a fact, and its
publicity possesses the highest value to
the State. The Chronicle has performed
this high and valuable Office for the
people of California, and in common with
all those who perform an important pub
lie service, is entitled to thanks. Some
OF the features presented by this valuable
issue will be read and studied with
thoughtful attention.
To generaIize: The Chronicles article
shows that the people of California have
expended one hundred millions for the
education of its rising generation. 1t has
been truly said thst by educating the
rising generation we are taking care OF
the productive capacity of the future.
Primarily, the productive capacity OF
people resides in their intelligence. The
statement, therefore, that hundred mil
lions. of dollars has been expended indi-
Gates q breadth of craftsmanship on the
pars OF the people of California truly COM
msindaple. The further statement that
California is paying four millions of dol
lars per year to teachers is a gratifying
fact 1t ia better by far to spend four
millions in the employment of instructors
Of youth than to spend 100000 for the
support of prisons and almshouses.
OF the higher education, the Chronicles s
article makes gratifying exhibit. The
State University, it says. has passed
through all the trials of every institution
Of its kind. and is now on a secure foot
ing. 1t has accumulated property esti-
mated at S2,240,000. 1t has a perpetual
fund of 81. I'll. 764, and special funds in the
way of personal gifts to the amount OF
S799, 800. Altogether the assets of the
University amount to S4,75l, ,564. In addi-
ton to this the University is supported
by a percentage of taxation upon the as
sessed valuation of property in the State
OF California TO an amount fully sufficient
fer its support. The assessed valuation
OF property in the State of California to-
day is 81, 200, 900, 900. One-tenth OF one
per cent. on this assessment would make
$1,000, 900.
Since the University has been opened
1t has received Il. 279 students. Last year
the scholastic population was 1,776 OF stu
dents enrolled, while the Freshman Class
of this year VIII consist of over 500, the
largest class that has ever entered the
University in one year.
These facts by logical relevancy bring
20 mind the futility of endowing educa.
tionsl institutions by the private fortunes
of men: that proceeding is certainly an
anachropism. In the time when educa.
ton was at the private charge of parents
the endowment of a university. college OF
seminary conferred the highest benefit
upon the educational interests of the
people; but in a time when the entire
property of the State is practically pledged
to the maintenance of a public school sys-
tenn. from the primary school to the uni
versity, the largest fortune may not hope
to compete with this splendid endow-
ment. Men of wealth seeking to leave
monuments to their name, to their wealth
and to their patriotic and public-spirited
i,r,nulses, must find some other field than
Tia endowment of educational institu-
lions.
At last the education of youth is guar.