The San Francisco call., 1905-01-03

SACRAMENTO, Jan. AT this ses-
sion of the Legislature many matters
of Importance to the schools of the
state will be brought up. In discussing
. these to-day superintendent of Public
Instruction 7. J. Kirk said
The most important educational
matters just now upon which legisla-
ton may be asked are the following:
First-Readjustment or change of
method of apportioning the State school
fund. The basis for fifty years has
been census children without reference
as to how they are massed. Until about
1878 all school funds, both State and
county, were apportioned according to
the number of census children, and at
that time a partial correction of the
method was made by a law, still in
force and universally approved, appli-
cable, however, only in the counties. BY
this law the county school fund and the
State school fund after 1t reaches the
county are apportioned according TO
the number of teachers or schoolrooms,
one teacher being calculated for every
seventy census children or fraction or
seventy not less than twenty. If the
teacher or schoolroom is the proper
basis for the county fund. why is II
not also for the State fund?
Legislation will be asked authorizing
the State School Superintendent in ap-
portioning the State school fund to be
governed by a rule similar TO that
which now governs the county School
Superintendent. The justice of the
teacher or schoolroom basis may be
fairly understood upon rejecting that
it costs almost as much TO maintain a
school of twenty children as it does one
of forty. But under the existing law
the school of forty children gets just
twice as much money from the State
as does the other. In readjusting or
correcting this evident erroneous meth
cd some counties which are now get
ting more than their share of the
States bounty must suffer a loss that
others may gain it, and if 1t could be
afforded L would like to see the State
add enough money so that no county
would be getting less State aid than at
present. Yes, / am sure that So 90 in
stead of 81 per census child would make
good the entire loss to the losing coun-
ties.
S4OO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
"Second-A change in the law so as
to do away with what are known as
S4ee school districts. A school that is
worthy of existence at all should re-
ceive enough money to maintain a re-
spectacle school. By these so-called
S4G0 districts we are now offering a pre-
MUM on poor teachers and short school
terms.
~Third-A change in the law so as to
require an average daily attendance Of
eight instead of five pupils during the
school year to avoid the lapsing Of a
school district.
Notwithstanding to County
Boards of Education in counties hav-
ing a population of $4,000 or more the
IT. iG0nf foc
on examination. In such counties high
schools and high school teachers are
numerous and a board quite as COM
petent as the State Board of Educa-
tion to determine the qualifications Of
high school teachers may readily be
found.
BURDENSOME TASK.
The work that has fallen upon the
State board and particularly upon the
office of the Superintendent of Public
instruction in the matter of granting
special high school credentials has be-
come burdensome, and neither the time
nor the opportunity is at present af-
forded as l think it should be afforded
a candidate for high school certificate
to show his qualifications by examina-
ton.
observation-disclosures to the County
Government act or otherwise provid-
ing Tor deputies Tor the Super1ntend-
ents in a number of the large counties
The best interest of the people and
the welfare of the schools certainly
show that it is not economy to deny
these officials absolutely necessary
help.
'Sixth-Providing for normal
school building in San Francisco.
Seventh-Appropriati to meet
pressing needs at the university, at the
Polytechnic school at San Luis Obispo
and due allowances for maintenance
and encouragement of the good work
that is being done at the State normal
schools.
There are numerous other proposed
educational measures to which my at
tention has been called and upon which
my opinion has been asked, as changes
in the high school law relative to tut
tfon fees under certain circumstances,
engagement Of the teachers for the
ensuing year, If not notified to the con-
trary by given date; change Of date
for election of school trustees. and
ways and means for the Introduction
of increased nature study or agricul-
.ture into the schools
&