The record-union., 1899-12-27

ton Of the public school system. The
actual grant of moneys of course snoulo
remain ever in the hands of the LeglS-
lature. but the technical form of educa-
tional legislation should first obtain the
sanction of this body.
1 have attempted to present the con-
viction, by concrete examples, that
California, in the present juncture, is
in urgent need of some calm, honest,
we'll digested reorganization of its
school system looking toward a large
and important educational future; the
past haphazard, unsystematic growth
by fits and starts needs now to be sup
planted by development upon definite
plan and directed wisely and economi-
cally with sense of due proportion and
relative value Of the vast and varied
interests at stake. The solution of this
problem is a task which needs the COM
bined wisdom, honesty and deliberation
of our wisest educational forces in the
State But the time is ripe for doing
something and l believe that it is fit
ting and appropriate that this associa-
ton should now take some active step
in the matter. We may start, believe,
from the generally accepted principle
that the Legislature will pass any ed
vocational measure upon which the edu-
Gators of the State in representative
body express unanimity. We need a
commission, which shall be representa-
tive of the best educational views,
which shall also contain a representa-
ton of lay educators of the State of
such standing and dignity in the COM
munity as will command the respect
and attention of the Legislature. Such
a commission should consider the prob
lem of the reorganza ton of the schools
OF the State and be prepared to recon-
mend to the next Legislature, either a
definite budget of school legislation or
at least secure the appointment. by au-
thority of the Legislature, of such a
commission, to report at it's following
session. The limitation of the action of
this body. however, is a matter which
may wisely be left to it's elaboration.
To this end, in conclusion, 1 recommend
that this association request the Su-
periptendent of Public instruction, the
President of the State University and
the President of Stanford University to
appoint commission of which they
shall be members and of such size as
they may determined; and that this
commission shall consider by whatever
plan 1t may deem wise, the reorganiza-
ton of the school laws to meet modern
conditions and to prepare the way for
future progress.
W. E. M. Beardslee sung a bass solo
"A Bandits Life Is the Life for Me, -
in excellent voice and style, and was
forced to respond to an encore.
THE COUNTY BOARD.
President Samuel T. Black of the San
Diego Normal School delivered a most
pertinent address on 1.-The County
Board-Its Duties and Opportunities. "
His remarks We're as follows:
THE COUNTY BOARD-ITS DUTIES
AND OPPORTUNITIES.
In the discussion of administrative
problems in education we are con-
stantly brought face to face with coadi-
lions rather than theories. In the carly
history of California, the great question
was to find persons possessed of suf-
ficient academic knowledge to teach in
the schools. Professional schools were
scarcer than the proverbial hens teeth,
as up to 1860 there were less than
twenty normal schools in the entire
country, and the number of normal
school graduates was less than 100.
Under these conditions, a professional
requirement in addition to academic
preparation was not to be considered.
To meet these conditions, the pioneers
of education, led by John SWEET, in
troduced system of examination by