The record-union., 1897-07-11

I VI lliSIIuclOH Is offered WHICH QSeQ 10
be found only in the 'old-time colleges,
and some of it was lacking there The
modern High School is in reality the
peoples college brought close to the
peoples homes.
Following up the State system of ed
ucatiGn, we come to the university,
which stands at the head of the sys-
tenn, Our State University was organ
lied by law in 1868, and began its work
of instruction in the autumn of 1869.
Different factors entered into its or
ganiZatiOn. The most decisive of these
was the national grant of public lands
by the Morrill, bill of 1862 This bill
aimed especially to encourage educa-
ton along the lines of agriculture and
the mechanic arts. The next most de-
cisive factor and not less potent, was
the surrender by the College of Cali
fornia of its property, name, and good
will in favor Of the broader institution.
That college had made creditable ad-
vances in promoting the higher educa-
ton in this State, and turned over to
the university the magnificent site now
occupied al Berkeley The State added
university funds reserved for such a
purpose, with a special tide-land en-
doWment. 1t appropriated money for the
first buildings at Berkeley, and, in later
years it made some special appropria-
tions for certain departments. In 1887,
and again in 1897, it set apart for the
university tax of l cent on a hundred
dollars of valuation; or. in the terms
| used in other States, one-tenth Of a
| mill on the dollar. This last sub
sidy was voted with entire unanimity
by both houses of the Legislature.
Private benefactions have been added,
but more tardily than to the Atlantic
! universities. Edward Tomplxins gave
the first endowment of a professorship,
d. o. Minis the second. The Reese Ii
brary, the Bacon Art Gallery, the Har-
mon Gymnasium, bear the names of
private donors. Many minor gifts were
received from time to time. Last year,
Mrs Phebe A. Hearst offered to erect
two permanent buildings worthy of the
university; and anonymous benefactors
have promised to follow her example.
She is now waiting for the completion
Of harmonious plan for the whole site,
to be furnished by a competition of
superior architects in this and other
countries; and she bears the expense
y
years, therefore, Californians expect to
see the beginning of such construction
on this unrivaled site as will be worthy
of a great university. 1t remains for
the public-spirited and far-seeing citi-
zens of the State to be equally gener-
Gus in endowing the many important
chairs of instruction.
In numbers, the university already
IL II
the universities of the land The reg
ister for this year shows a total of 40
on the teaching staff Of the academic
| departments at Berkeley, and of 130
in the Affiliated Colleges in San Fran
cisco. Three hundred and forty-three
separate courses of instruction were
given at Berkeley. The students al
Berkeley number about 800; in San
Francisco about T20-in all, 900. The
colleges in San Francisco are those of
law, medicine, dentistry. pharmacy and
veterinary science; also the Mark Hop
l1inS Institute of Art, in the splendid
home reared by Mr. Hopkins and pre-
sented to the Art Association by E. F.
Searles. The Lick Observatory, at
Mount Hamilton, is a constituent part
of the university. Under the care of
the Regents is also the new Wilmerding
School, for educating boys in mechan-
chanical employments.
Education in California has much to
show outside of the organized public
system. Private schools and institu-
tions of all grades, from the kinder
garten to the secondary school, the
college, and the university, have re-
ceived large patronage. Especially
noteworthy are the schools which fur
nish preparation for college courses.
Some of these rival the best High
Schools, and are patronized by many
in preference to the public school Yet
the High Schools, with their free in
struction and their well-developed
courses, satisfy the great majority of
parents. Their efficiency has been great
ly increased by a close connection with
the State University, under very thor
Ough system of accrediting. The lead
ing private schools of a like grade seek
the same recognition, by which pupils
are admitted to the university without
examination.
The Roman Catholic educators of the
State have built up numerous flourish
ing parochial schools, and have plant
ed colleges in some of the chief cities.
Different religious denominations have
devoted much effort to the establish
ment of colleges and academies and
theological seminaries. The Mills Col
lege for young women has grown out
of a fourishing seminary established
near Oakland The Belmont School for
Boys has incorporated as a permanent
| institution, retaining as it's Principal
it's founder President William T. Reid.
The Throop Polytechnic School, at Pas
adena has foundation which prom
ises well for this division of advanced
education. The Lick Mechanical School,
in San Francisco, prepares students for
nandicrafts, and has course leading
to the Colleges of Science Other schools
make speciality of manual training,
and some of them are incorporated into
the public school system. During the
year 1896 the number of children be-
tween the ages of > and II who at
tended private schools was set down as
u 405: in San Francisco alone, 9,070
BY far the most important institution
due to private munifcence is the Le-
land Stanford Junior University,
founded by Senator Stanford, and stu
ated at Palo Alto It was opened in
| 1891 with a full and able corps of pro-
fessors and very large attendance of
students, many Of whom followed the
new professors from institutions beyond
the Rocky Mountains. President
David Starr Jordan is at
its head. Since the death of
the founder, Mrs Stanford has de-
voted herself, with great success, to
the management of the properties con