History of the public school system of California

Preface

This history contains an outline of school legislation, school reports, and educational conventions, from 1850 to 187G, and a statement of the leading facts connected Avith the organization of the school system of California.

This Centennial year seems a fitting time to gather up the scattered and fragmentary records of the beginnings of our schools, and to trace the development of our system of public instruction during the first quarter of a century of our history as a State.

I have undertaken the work, because I felt that it ought to be done, and no one else seemed ready to do it. I have endeavored to make it accurate and impartial. It is published on my own responsibility solely, and at my own expense.

Only a limited number of copies has been printed ; it is not

stereotyped, and the type is distributed. It is submitted to

the pioneer teachers and school officers of California, with the

hope that this record of the history they helped to make may

not be wholly devoid of interest.

J. S.

San Feancisco,

Part I. Page

1. Foiindatiou 9

3. First Free School 13

4. Pioneer Schools 13

Division of School Moneys 15

6. Schools in San Francisco, 1852 16

7. First State Report— Marvin 16

9 . Second lieport — Marvin 20

Division of School Moneys 22

11. Third Eeport— Hubbs 22

13. Fourth Eeport, 1854— Hubbs 23

Secular Schools 23

15. Fifth Report, 1855— Hubbs 24

16. Sixth Report, 185B— Hubbs 24

17. Seventh Report, 1857— Moulder 24

State University 26

19. Eighth Report, 1858-Moulder. 28

20. Ninth Report, 1859— Moulder 29

22. Tenth Report, 18G0— Moulder 30

Division of School Moneys 31

Speech of John Conness 32

24. Eleventh Report, 1861— Moulder 3o

26. Twelfth Report, 1862— Moulder 36

Teachers' Certificates 37

School Fund 37

28. Thirteenth Report, 1863— Swett 38

State Tax 39

State Tax 44

30. First Biennial Report— Swett • 44

Topics treated of 45

31. Second Report— Swett 47

Revised School Law 48

Salaries 50

Libraries 51

Religions Exercises 51

Examination of Teachers 53

Progress 56

6 CONTENTS.

PAGE.

State University 58

33. Third Report— Fitzgerald 58

California School Law 59

35. Fourth Keport— Fitzgerald 60

Increase of State Tax 60

Leading Topics 62

Conclusion 63

37. Filth Report— Bolander 63

Compulsory Education 64

1. Increase of State Tax 65

2. Compulsory Education 65

39. Sixth Report, 1875— Bolander 246

Text Books 67

Trained Teachers 67

Normal Institutes 68

State Series of Text Books 69

41. List of State Superintendents 70

SFECIAL HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO.

1. First School Reports 71, 76

2. Miscellaneous Historical Items 77

1. Buildings 77

2. Grading 77

3. Salaries 77

4. Certificates 77

5. Annual Elections 78

6. Examinations 78

7. Secular Schools 78

8. Politics and Schools , 78

9. Music and Drawing 78

10. Changes of Text Books 78

11. Co-education 78

12. Normal Schools 78

13. Hobbies 78

14. Merits and Defects 78

15. Address of President Davis 78

16. Veteran Teacliers 78

17. Ten Years' Teaching 78

3. List of City Superinttiidents 90

4. List of Presidents of Boards 90

5. List of Principals of Schools 91

6. Statistical Table, Historical 94

7. Special Statistics 95

Part II. L Conventions And Institutes

1. First Convention, 1854 96

2. Second Convention, 1856 97

3. First Institute, 1861 97

4. Second Institute, 1862 98

5. Third Institute, 1863 99

Circular 100

State Tax 102

Text Books 103

" California Teacher " 103

State Examinations 103

Results 104

CONTENTS. 7

PAGE.

6. Fourth Institute, 1865 104

7. Fifth and Sixth, 1867-G8 105

8. Seventh and Eighth, 1870-71 106

9. State Association, 1875 106

II. INSTITUTE ADDRESSES.

1. Industrial Education — Carr 107

2. Duties of the State to Public Schools— Swett 109

3. Methods of Teaching— Minns 122

4. Common Sense in Teaching--Swett 143

5. Dedication Address — Starr King 148

6. Moral Instruction— Minns ■ 153

7. Physical Training— Swett 158

III. STATE UNIVERSITY.

1. Foundation 165

2. First Regents 165

3. First Faculty 166

7. Endowment 168

IV. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

1. Foundation 169

2. Teachers 169

3. Numbers 170

V. STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION.

1. First Board 170

2. Other Boards 171

VI. TEACHERS' CERTIFICATES AND BOARDS OF EXAMINATION.

1. District Trustees 171

2. First State Board 171

3. Superintendent Swett's Report 172

4. Revised Law 172

5. Swett's Address 175

6. Set of Questions, 1876 183

■ 7. List of Holders of Life Diplomas 191

8. List of Holders of State Educational Diplomas 195

9. Prominent Teachers 197

10. State Educational Society 200

11. State Series of Text-Books 203

12. Education of Colored Children 205

13. Course of Study 206

15. Historical Statistical Tables 2l5

1. Expenditures 215

2. School Taxation 216

3. School Statistics 217

16. Historical List of County Superintendents 218

Part III. Present Condition Of The School System

PAGE.

I. School Supervision 223

I. State Superintendent 223

II. State Board of Education 223

III. State Board of Examination 223

IV. County Superintendents 224

V. City Superintendents 224

VI. City Boards . 224

VII. School Trustees. 224

VIII. County Boards of Examination 224

IX. University Kegents 225

X. Normal School Trustees. '. 225

II. School Revenue 227

I. State School Fund 227

n. State Tax 227

III. County Tax 227

IT. City Tax 227

V. District Tax ■ 227

III. General Provisions 228

1. Schools 228

2. Pupils 229

3. Teachers 229

4. District Libraries 231

IV. Classification of Schools 231

I. State University 231

II. State Normal School 232

III. High Schools 232

V. Summary of Statistics, 1875 233

1 . Census Children 233

2 Classification 233

3. Schools and Teachers 233

4. Holders of Certificates 233

5. Salaries 233

6. Financial 234

7. Valuation 234

VI. School Statistics by Counties, 1875 235

VII. Resume of the Condition of the Schools 236

1. Buildings 236

2. Length of School 236

3. Teachers 236

4. Instruction 236

5. Libraries 236

6. Secular Instruction 236

7. Defects 237

8. Expenses 237

9. What we Need 237

THE

Public School System of California.