The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-01-02

| are equipped for the most part with suit
able furniture. apparatus and teachers.
1t will thus be seen that in the matter
of education pace has been kept with the
general development Of the section. This
has been rendered possible by the realiz-
| ing sense on the part of the people that
| the public schools more than any other
cause, are the source of intellectual bless
| ing, and on them depends the perpetuity
of those institutions and privileges that
tend to the true exaltation of people.
They are recognized as the nurseries of
the public mind the light by which vir-
tue and honor are most clearly reflected,
and with such ideas the intelligent citi-
zens have not demurred at taxing them
selves in order that the school facilities
should be multiplied and supported
wherever and whenever the need arose.
There Is, perhaps, no other county in
the state having better built, more COM
modious and more modern public school
buildings than Los Angeles county. The
sites are, for the most part. pleasant and
attractive, and oftentimes made beautt-
full by the planting of trees, flowers and
shrubbery. 1t Is not to be understood
that all the buildings are of the superior
class. for there are some buildings In
new districts of more lowly and humble
sort; but even in these there Is found
radiating out into the small community
the true educational spirit. In the
sparsely settled country district. as in
the cities. the belief is such as was voiced
by Horace Mann, who, when abiding to
the school houses of his land, said:
Though not always an architectural Or
nament, they are a moral beauty to the
lat, t. TS..A- l-A-
of these important but lowly mansions;
survey those thickly seated benches. Be-
fore us are clustered the children Of to-
day, the men Of tomorrow, the immortals
of eternity
Scattered throughout the length and
breadth OF the county are 1893 school
buildings. having 14S male teachers and
$50 female teachers. There are 53,752
children under II years of age in the
county. with 30,9S9 enrolled, the average
attendance being 23,72S. The schools are
divided into 461 primary schools. 21S
grammar and high schools, and the
tax for their support has been "a cents
on taxable property, as shown by the
county assessment roll of $99,520 Gil, the
amount received during the fiscal year
of 1S96-97 having been 246.S39.2S.
1t may perhaps, be of interest for some
to know that the average monthly salary
of the male teachers in the primary and
grammar grades is $94.60. and In the high
school $120.T0, and to the female teachers
in the two grades, 1854, and in the high
school $96.46. OF the total number OF
teachers, 81 are graduates Of the Cali
fornia State Normal school, and "a are
graduates Of the normal schools Of other
states.
AS part of the machinery Of education
the libraries are proving of the greatest
benefit. Besides the local libraries, with
which every school district Is provided,
there is established a general teachers
library, which is located in the rooms
adjacent to the office Of the county SUI
perintendent of schools and under his
supervision. This library is enlarged and
sustained from fund arising from the
certification of teachers, and contains
about 1000 volumes of pedagogical read
ings, histories, science, geography,
biography, music and poetry. 1t is most
gratifying to know that all these vol
umes are being used, and as a result the
school work of the county Is being stimu-
lated.
Another aid to the teachers is the re-
cent organization of the Los Angeles
County Pedagogical society, composed Of
the teachers of the county. and including
the teachers of the normal school and
those of the Southern California Univer-
sity The society is divided into cir
cles," which hold weekly or monthly
readings in different parts of the county.
A carefully prepared program is sup
piled to these circles, all of which are
i,,r linn cftt wi, ho cop
topic at the same time. A general as
sembly will be held two or three times
during the year, when the chairman of
each circle is expected to report the
progress made during the last period Of
work. The results of the readings are
already to be noted throughout the
county in the employment of improved
methods, greater degree of enthusiasm
and systematized interest in the school
work.
The eight high schools, established at
various cow: enient points, are afford
ing greatly increased facilities for higher
education
The teachers institute, which Is held
each year and serves to bring together all
of the teachers of the county In the dis
cussion of topics bearing upon school
The program of subjects, upon which
papers are read followed by general
discussion, is prepared by the county SUI
perintendent, and as the institute lasts
for about five days, the opportunity on
the part of the teachers for imbibing new
ideas and receiving mental stimulus is
tn important factor in the educational
work.
The public schools have been, not in
aptly, called the peoples colleges" and
the character of those graduating from
them must determine what the status of
the country Is to be, whether viewed
from the standpoint of material ad-
vantage, intellectual advancement or
moral stability. 1t is true the academies
and colleges have a powerful influence
and accomplish a mighty work, but so
long as nine-tenths Of the entire popula-
ton never have access to the advantages
they afford, the more important Is it that
the free schools be administered and
guarded with every consideration for
the vast interests involved. Inside the
schools it is for the teachers to look up
not down-to his or her work. The i'm
portance of the office cannot be over
estimated. To clearly comprehend the
nature and magnitude Of the duties as
sumed is the first step toward their