CHAPTER XVII.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

By Professor John Swett and the Author.

HOW THE PIONEERS MADE EARLY PROVISION FOR A FUND THAT WOULD PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES ON A GENEROUS SCALE-GOVERNMENT LANDS FORMED THE BASIS FOR AN EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION, WITH LIBRARIES IN EVERY SCHOOLHOUSE-SAN FRANCISCO'S FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE AND FIRST SCHOOL TEACHER-AN OUTLINE OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE STATE'S PLAN OF INSTRUCTION— NORMAL SCHOOLS.

Throughout the civilized world, wherever those that teach are interested in the great problem of education, California is known as one of the most liberal states in the Union in educational matters, and her generous system of public instruction has been the model and the wonder of many

countries.

The fathers builded well, and they laid deep the foundations of the present public school system soon after the Argonauts of '49 had made the rich country of the Pacific their home. The foundation of the public system of the country was laid in the constitutional convention at Monterey, in September, 1849.

school

stitute

The select committee from the state convention reported in committee of the whole, in favor of appropriating the 500,000 acres of land granted by Congress to new states for the purpose of internal improvements to cona perpetual school fund. At the outset there was a provision in the report that the legislature might divert the fund to other purposes, if exigencies should arise. Semple, of Sonoma, was chief debater in the defeat of that provision by a vote of 18 to strike it out to 17 against the propoIt was by this close vote that a perpetual and inviolable fund for schools was secured. Semple, whose ideas on the subject were matured and far-reaching, argued in elaboration for a uniform system and for grade

sition.

schools.

A section providing that a school must be in session at least three months every year to secure the fund, was adopted. When Article IX of the Constitution was under discussion (this relates to education) it was found on the ground that it created a large school fund, and that this fund would be a source of corruption. The article recites that "a general diffusion of knowledge is essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people." Under this article free schools are created in every district, public school taxes are provided, and the sale of lands is arranged for the creation of a perpetual fund.

When the provisions of this article were assailed Semple again became the champion of the liberal provisions, and his views won. He had clear ideas on educational matters and is really the founder of the public school system.

About the close of the first session of the legislature, at San José, 1849-50, Mr. Corey, of the committee on education, got a postponement of school taxation, on the ground that the other taxes of the state formed a burden. already.

Though the foundation for the schools of the state was thus laid early and well, San Francisco, independently of the general law, established the first school by an ordinance of her common council. On April 8, 1850, H. C. Murray drew and got passed an ordinance that authorized John C. Pelton to open a public school in the Baptist chapel of the new town of San Francisco. This was the first public school in California. The hours of teaching were from 8:30 a. m. until noon and from 2 to 5 p. m. The school age was established at from 4 to 16 years, and the membership was limited to 100 pupils.

It should be stated that before this public school was organized, Thomas Douglass opened a tuition school. This was in April, 1848. He had but six pupils and he taught in a small schoolhouse that had been built in October, 1847, by order of the town council. The school was in one sense under direction of the council. On April 1, 1848, the population of San Francisco was about one thousand and there were in the vicinity some sixty school children, or children of school age. In May the Douglass classes embraced thirty-seven pupils, but it was not long until the gold excitement cut the number to eight pupils.

During a part of the year 1847 a Mr. Marston, a Mormon of considerable enterprise, opened a private school and he was so popular that he secure cl twenty pupils, a considerable number for those times.

In April, 1849. Reverend Albert Williams opened a private school and succeeded in getting twenty-five pupils. His school was in session until

September of the same year.

On October 11, 1849, John C. Pelton and his wife arrived from Boston with books and furniture to open a school on the New England plan. They began in December, 1849, with but three pupils, but their enterprise was soon made a free public school, as before stated.

The first state school law, under the provisions of the constitution, was passed in 1851. It was cumbersome and in many ways defective, but it was a start in the right direction. David C. Broderick, afterward famous in national politics, was a member of the legislature when the school bill was under discussion. He supported the educational plan of the administration warmly and did much for the cause of the schools. The law of 1851 provided in a crucle way for a survey and sale of school lands, but in, a manner so impracticable that no lands were ever sold under its provisions. There were

many

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other defects that were remedied thereafter.

The first school ordinance passed under the measure known as the law of 1851 was that of San Francisco, which was adopted in September, 1851. It provided for a board of education of seven members, a city superintendent of schools, and other officers, and appropriated $35,000 to carry out the educational plan. Thomas J. Nevins, father of the ordinance, was the city's first superintendent of schools. The first schools organized under this law were the Happy Valley School, of which James Denman was the first teacher, and the Powell Street School, of which Joel Tracy was the first teacher. These schools opened on December 17, 1851. Washington Grammar School was opened on December 22, 1851, with F. E. James as principal. During the year 1852 the following schools were organized: Rincon, January 28, Silas Weston, principal; Spring Valley Grammar, February 9, Asa W. Cole, principal; Union Grammar, June, Ahira Holmes, principal: Mission Grammar, May, Alfred Rix, principal.

The average daily attendance of all these schools during the year 1852 was 445, and the average attendance during 1853 was 703. It is noted that

among the teachers employed during 1853 were: Ellis H. Holmes, principal of the Washington School; John Swett, principal of Rincon School; Joseph C. Morrill, principal of Spring Valley School. The salaries of principals in San Francisco during 1853 was but $1,500 a year.

The first superintendent of public instruction of the state was John G. Marvin, and his first report to the legislature was on January 5, 1852. He recommended the repeal of the defective law of 1851, asked for the sum of $50,000 for the schools and for a tax rate of five cents on the $100 for the purpose of raising a school fund. He also requested that the office of county superintendent of schools be created for each county in the state. Another highly important recommendation-one that has become an important part of the law-was that school libraries be established. He also desired that the proceeds of the sale of all tule lands-chiefly overflowed and once tide-water lands-be applied to school purposes. From these sources he estimated that there would be a school fund of $9,975,400.

In an appendix to his report, Mr. Marvin gave extracts from letters of inquiry addressed to him by various county officers and to postmasters. A few extracts from these will show the educational condition of the state at that time: Butte county had 50 children, but no school; Calaveras county, 100 children, and no school; Colusa, 75 children, with some prospect of a school next year; El Dorado county, 100 children, but no school; Contra Costa county had some 400 children. Postmaster Coffin, of Martinez, wrote: "There are nearly 150 here. There is but just the breath of life existing in the apology for a school in the town. I presume it will be defunct ere one month passes away." Marin county had 60 children, and a mission school at San Rafael; Mariposa county, 100 children, "no school organized;" Mendocino county, 70 children, and a school of 20 pupils on Russian river; Monterey county, 500 children-two schools of 40 pupils each in the city-179 at San Juan, and no school; "morality and society in a desperate condition;" Napa county had 100 children, and three schools in the county, one of which was at Napa City, and numbered 25 scholars; Nevada county had 250, and four schools, two of which were at Nevada City, one at Grass Valley, and one at Rough and Ready; Placer county had 100 children, and one small school at Auburn; San Joaquin county had 250 children, and two schools, both at Stockton. Mr. Rogers, the teacher

of a private school at Sacramento, reported that there were 400 children in that county, and no schools except two primary and one academy, a high school in the city of Sacramento, all private.

He says:

"This city has never spent a cent for elementary instruction. My sympathies are with the public free schools, but in their absence Istarted a private school."

Santa Cruz county had 200 children, and two schools, both in the town, numbering 65 scholars.

Santa Clara county had 300 children. The Young Ladies' Seminary, at San José, in charge of the Sisters of Charity, had 90 pupils; and the San José Academy, Reverend E. Bannister, principal, had 60 pupils. Through the exertions of Hon. George B. Tingley, a subscription of five thousand dollars was raised for the benefit of this academy. There were two primary schools at Santa Clara, with 64 scholars, and two other schools in the township, numbering 35 scholars.

Santa Barbara county had 400 children, and one public school in the town, under supervision of the common council, who paid the two teachers together seventy dollars per month. There was also a small school at Santa

Inez.

Concerning San Francisco it is reported: "In May last, the common council, under authority of the charter, authorized the raising of $35,000 school fund for the present year. In September, 1851, the same body passed the present excellent school ordinance, and appointed Aldermen Ross, Atwell, John Wilson, and Henry E. Lincoln, to form the board of educa

as a

tion.

No.

These gentlemen chose T. J. Nevins superintendent."

Three public schools were organized at that time-Happy Valley School, 1, 163 scholars, James Denman, principal; District No. 2, Dupont Street School, 150 pupils, Mr. Jones, principal; Powell Street School No. 3, 60 pupils, Joel Tracy, principal.

Among the private schools the principal were as follows: San Francisco Academy, Rev. F. E. Prevaux, 31 pupils; Episcopal Parish School of Grace Church, 40 scholars, Dr. Ver Mehr; Wesleyan Chapel Select School, 33 scholars, Mr. Osborn, instructor; St. Patrick's School, 150 children, Father McGinnis, principal; Church of St. Francis School, 150 pupils, Father Langlois, principal.