The San Francisco call., 1903-01-09
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
OVERNOR PARDEE in his inaugural mes
= Coo rrnnerl,. r,1..a s1tred the final cause of

production and progress 1t is in the high average
OF intelligence acquired by people in the public
schools. The theory OF our school system is that
education must be for the purposes OF the state
Free government exist only among people who
have common training for the duties OF citizen
Ship. The ancient commonwealth, which had not
discayered this principle permitted education to be in
other hands and for other purposes than those OF
the state, with the result that the people were under
double allegiance and that to the state was the
weaker.
Governor Pardee says forciby and truly: "Edu-
cation is the greatest interest with the care OF which
the State stands charged. Fully one-half the rev.
enes raised by the State government is expended for
education, in form another, and in this Cali
ornia is merely yielding the strongly marked ten
dency in all governments, which, where they once
grudgingy gave small pittance for the education OF
the people, content to it become one OF
the largest OF the State and local and even national
expenditures New York State, counting State and
local outays, spends $3o,ooo,ooo annually upon her
public schools; and California, with a record OF
more than $7,oooooo year, is in proportion to her
population equally liberal. The cost OF our public
schools is not far from $5 for every man, woman
and child in California; but the object is noble
one and taxes are paid more cheerfully.
In effect that expenditure is for the maintenance in
tact Of the very foundations OF the State If only
one generation of Americans were deprived of public
school education the republic would go rapidly into
decadence. What education would then be attain
able would be intensely class in its character, and
whether Intentionally not would be adverse to
the purposes of the state Government is secular
and theoctatc, and where secular education
ceases the subordination of the state begins
The Governor advises amendment to the law
there is now idle in the treasury $I,oooooo The law
limits It's investment to national State and county
bonds. The first bear such low interest and high pre-
MUM as to bar investment in them All State bonds
now belong to the fund, and the counties are so in
dependent of debt that this surplus lies idle with
no investment in sight Therefore the Governor
recommends that the law be amended to permit in
vestment in school and municipal bonds This
should be done and, when it is done, the amend
ment should carry such regulations will prevent
spoiaton OF the fund in the interest of private spec
ulators such as has characterized its management by
the proxy members of the Board of Examiners.
Under this head Of public education the inaugural
message passes TO a consideration OF the needs of
the university, with deserved ascription the past
work OF that institution and we'll put statement of
the part played by university training as an equip
ment for all the duties of life. He puts it we'll in
saying that: Science and practical business are
coming every day mere into touch, and the univer-
sty graduate is longer looked upon as an imprac-
ticable, useless member OF any community"
Calling attention the 24oo students now entered
at Berkeley he tells the Legislature that which should
startle it into action that they compressed into
accommodations that prepared for half that
number!
1t goes without saying that such condition inn
plies impairment OF results Each of that throng
OF knowledge seekers is entitled to receive the bene
fit OF the best conditions in equipment professional
talent and class room, and it is easy to see that
they are all deprived OF this, which is one OF their
birthrghts children OF the State to be educated for
its secular purpose a commonwealth
The report OF President Wheeler is so specific
that no detail recommendation by the Governor was
necessary and his duty is we'll done by calling at
tention to conditions and needs \and exhorting the
Legislature to respond in a liberal spirit
The educational division of the inaugural message
will intensely CRAFTY the people OF California. They
feel that education is no longer for the purpose of
equpping small guild of Greeks to keep alive and
transmit the classics, but that it is for furnishing the
State large guild OF men and women with trained
minds, capable OF applying science to art in the de
velopment OF everything upon which the life OF the
State and the prosperity of the people depend
Now, and in immediate future more than ever
this State needs such guild. New problems OF ex
tended trade and expanded opportunity confront us.
Upon their solution depends the future OF California
Let the people hear and heed the counsel OF their
elect