The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-08-28
A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CALIFORNIA RANKS AHEAD OF
THE OLDEST STATES.
Her System of Maintenance Now
Attracts National At
tention

1t is interesting to note the fact that
California ranks at the very head and
front of all States of the Union in the
matter of properly handling the vexed
question of school maintenance.
1t is largely due to the services of
Superintendent Black Of the public
schools of this State that California 5
great superiority in this particular is
now we'll known all over the world
Mr.. Black was recently Vice President
OF the National Educational Associa-
ton. He was also one of the commit
tee of twelve appointed to Crap
pie with the vexed rural school
problem. The intelligent and cour-
ageous methods in vogue IN California
became widely known to educators
from other States, and it is probable
that our system will soon be intro
duced in the Legislatures of other
States In view of this fact, an analy-
sis of some of the main features of the
California system is not out of place:
In the first place, it should be borne
in mind that the fund for the support
of public schools in many States de-
ponds upon taxes in the various dis
triets without aid from any general
fund. In sparsely settled and poor
districts this works a great hardship
and results in poor schools. This is
obviated in California by the organize
ton of permanent fund and the
steady provision of reliable sources of
revenue.
The permanent school fund Of Cali
fornia consists of receipts from the sale
of school lands The fund now amounts
to over $4,O00O00 The interest on
this fund, together with interest on
investments in school land, yield an
annual income of more than S26OOtU.
There is also a State poll tax OF -
levied on each male inhabitant between
the ages of y and 60 years This yields
more than $4,000 annually. There
is also a collateral inheritance tax of
5 per cent. on collateral inheritances,
which is a large sum each year.
In a recent letter to School Superin-
tendents Of other States explanatory
of the California system, Superintend-
ent Black gave the following brief ex-
PLANTATION of another phase Of the
questionable State school tax. He
says:
The statutes require that there be
levied on all property in the State an
ad valorem tax sufficient to raise the
sum of 81 yearly for each census child.
On account of the allowance made in
levying the tax for possible Delinquent
cies, the actual sum realized is some
what in excess of 81 per child.
The revenue derived from these four
sources for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1896, was:
Permanent school fund.......... $3.50 429 90
State poll tax...................... 1862, .94 Il
Collateral inheritance tax, etc. 102, 6SS 10
State school tax lad valorem).. 2,320,21 oS
Total State moneys ............. SO. O5o. 81 65
The school census for the year was
323, 100 The average, therefore, per
census child, from all State sources,
was 1913"
1t is in the distribution of the school
fund Of the State that California ex-
cells all other States in the Union. for
1t is arranged in such a way that there
is nothing like inequality. This phase
of the question is explained as follows
in the same circular before quoted
from:
For the purpose of fixing primary
base for the distribution of school
funds, there is taken, during the month
of April, each year, a census of all the
children in the State between the ages
of ) and II years. The term census
children must not be COMPOUNDED with
the term children of school age as
the latter embraces all children be-
tween the ages of 6 and 81 years.
1.-The method of distribution is
unique, combining, as it does, the
enumeration and average daily at
tendance methods. It's strong point is
the marked recognition that it gives
to the principle that the State, as a
whole is interested in the education of
all its citizens To that end, the rich
and populous centers are made TO con-
tribute to the poor and sparsely set
tied districts AT the same time, the
local and county taxes imposed are a
constant reminder that each locality
must share with the State the re-
eponsibility of educating its youth.
IAN State school moneys are appor-
toned by the Superintendent Of Public
instruction to the several counties in
proportion to the number OF school
census children, as shown by the 1e-
turns of the School Census Marshals of
the preceding school year, and the
moneys so apportioned are distributed
to the several County Treasures by
the State Treasurer on the order of
the State Superintendent"
AS a result Of a careful study of the
entire State system it was decided by
those of the committee of twelve who
looked into the problem of school
maintenance for the National Conven
ton of Teachers that CALIFORNIA; sys-
TEN is unique. as we'll as very salts
factory. II is a great honor to the
State that its business methods in con-
Quoting the important matter of the
education of youth are superior to
/, those in vogue in older States.