SAN FRANCISCO.

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES AND BUILDING-FUND.

The estimated cost of school-buildings to accommodate the children now seeking admission to the schools is $357,000, for which purpose there will remain a balance of $180,721.82. Superintendent Widber remarks: "The board of education has, therefore, at its disposal only about one-half of the funds required for the erection of schoolbuildings. But if for a few years in continuance it can have a like amount for a building fund, a sufficient number of school-houses can be erected to at least save the department from paying rent for rooms and buildings, and provide all children attending the schools with capacious and well-ventilated class-rooms. The legislature has relieved the school fund of the amount annually transferred to the sinking and interest fund of school bonds, now amounting to about $80,000, by providing that such transfers shall be made from the general fund of the city and county, instead of from the school fund. It has been owing almost entirely to this heavy draft upon the school fund that a deficit has occurred each year, and the legislature has performed a very essential act."

CONSOLIDATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Until recently the primary system included six grades, each occupying six months, while the grammar course consisted of four grades, each requiring a year. The highest primary grade, therefore, graduated pupils into the lowest grammar grade twice as often as the latter was ready to receive them. By reducing the number of primary grades, and extending the time of each through one year, the examinations and promotions are made coincident with those of the grammar grade.

COURSE OF STUDY.

Upon the recommendation of principals of the primary schools, French's First Lessons in Numbers, as a text-book in mental arithmetic, was added to the primary course. The principals also indorsed the recommendations of the deputy superintendent to teach decimals in connection with whole numbers in the lowest grade.

In the grammar grades some of the less essential studies have been dropped, and a material reduction made of the amount required in those retained. The new course cumbers pupils with fewer tasks, but secures far greater thoroughness and a higher quality of education.

CONDITION OF SCHOOLS.

Deputy Superintendent Swett, in his last annual report, says: "The educational condition of the schools will best be shown by the results of the thorough and critical examinations at the end of the school year. The expectation that the cutting down of the course of study to something like sensible limits would be productive of good results has been fully realized. The class of 254 graduates from the grammar schools is the largest and, without doubt, the best fitted class ever sent up to the high schools. In most of the lower grades at least four-fifths of the pupils were regularly promoted. But the new course of study, though an improvement, still has some serious defects. In fact, so long as teachers depend mainly on text-books, and so long as some of the inferior school books forced on the city by the State board are continued in use, it is utterly impossible to adopt a practical and rational course of instruction. It is to be hoped, now that the State uniformity law is repealed, that during the next two years some gradual changes may be effected, and that the course of study may be revised and improved."

The examinations in French and German were satisfactory; but Mr. Swett remarks: "It is evidently too heavy a burden for a pupil to learn two languages and carry the English course at the same time."

TEXT-BOOKS.

The law compelling cities to adopt the State series of text-books has been repealed. The deputy superintendent, while favoring the repeal, advocates local uniformity as indispensable.

EXAMINATIONS OF TEACHERS.

The quarterly competitive examinations of teachers have proved conclusively the utter incompetence of some candidates claiming, and supposed to be thoroughly qualified, and the imperative need of thorough examinations by competent and impartial

persons.

In an address delivered before the National Education Association, held in Boston in August of the present year, Deputy Superintendent Swett said that ho considered the

present system of examining teachers, in most cases, a mere farce. "Of the 300,000 school-teachers in this country only one-tenth are professional; a fact which will remain unchanged so long as communities fail to retain their teachers longer than a single year and refuse to give them proper remuneration."

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NEED OF EDUCATIONAL REFORM.

Mr. Swett deprecated the election of school boards by political parties and the frequent changes caused thereby among school officers and teachers. Gradually, but surely, the schools are coming to be considered as legitimate party spoils of the victors." "There has been a great deal of talk about reform in civil-service appointments, but the country stands in greater need of reform in the manner of making educational appointments." "There are only a few States that have any system of professional examinations by means of which a public-school teacher can secure a professional life-diploma, and thereafter be exempted from the humiliation of periodic examinations by petty school officials. And even if a life-certificate can be secured, as in a few States, such as Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, or California, it is of no legal value outside of the State in which it is granted. California is the only State that recognizes by law the State diplomas and certificates of other States, by placing them on an equal footing with her own. No State, except California, recognizes by law the normal-school diplomas of other States; in fact, many of the States fail to recognize by law the diplomas given to graduates of their own normal schools."

LIFE-DIPLOMAS.

"There ought to be, in every State, a State board of examination, made up exclusively of professional teachers, including the State superintendent of public instruction, having power to issue life-diplomas to experienced teachers of the highest rank, and certificates of lower grades to younger teachers; these diplomas and certificates to be issued only upon actual examination in writing, and the record of examination to be indorsed upon the certificates. There ought, then, to be a system of broad and liberal legislation, in all the States, by means of which a professional teacher, holding a diploma or certificate in one State, should be guaranteed a legal recognition in all the other States. In addition to a State system of examinations, an efficient system of city, county, or township examinations is indispensable. The examining boards should be made up of each city, county, or township superintendent, together with from three to five professional teachers, themselves holders of high certificates. They should have power to issue, on actual written examinations, certificates of different grades, valid for periods of time ranging from two to ten years. These boards should be paid for their work; otherwise it will not be well done; and they should be composed exclusively of prac-. tical teachers, for the same reason that only lawyers can legally examine legal students, only physicians examine medical students, and only clergymen decide the fitness of theological students to enter the ministry. Until there is a reform in this defective point of our school system, there can be no marked and permanent improvement in the public schools as a whole. That so little has been done in this direction, can only be accounted for from the fact that nine-tenths of the men and women engaged in 'keeping school' are intending to get out of the business as soon as they can, otherwise they would never submit to the humiliations imposed upon them."

Mr. Swett concludes his remarks by presenting a series of propositions relating to the examination and appointment of teachers, for the consideration of teachers, educators, and legislators.

He was made chairman of a committee appointed to consider the matter of teachers' examinations, and report at the next annual meeting of the association.

EVENING NORMAL SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS.

This school, which was discontinued for two years, has been recently revived. It meets one evening each school-week, continues two hours, is conducted by competent teachers, under the direction of the deputy superintendent as principal, is numerously attended, and promises well.

INCREASED PAY OF TEACHERS.

The pay of grammar assistants has been raised from $810 to $840 a year, gold coin; and the salaries of female head assistants in grammar schools have been raised from $1,000 to $1,200 a year; and their title changed to vice-principal.

EVENING-SCHOOLS.

The board has recently adopted these schools as a permanent feature of the publicschool system. They are free to all persons over ten years of age, and are continued

the same number of months as the day-schools, with the same vacations. Pupils attending day-school are not admitted except for instruction in drawing. The classes in architectural and mechanical drawing have been very successful. The schools are graded.

COSMOPOLITAN SCHOOLS.

In these schools-in which the French and German languages are taught in addition to the regular English course-there are 5,396 pupils. In the primary department the pupils are required to study one language from one to one and one-half hours per day. In the grammar department both languages are pursued, and the time given is two hours per day. The demand for instruction in these languages, particularly German, was so great, that when special teachers were appointed in two schools, more than four-fifths of the pupils immediately began the study of one or both languages.

DRAWING.

When the study of drawing was introduced into the public schools, instruction was limited to the first and second grades. In the primary schools, though there was a little drawing on slates for amusement, there was no systematic training. A skillful teacher has now been assigned to teach drawing in the primary schools. All grades below the fifth are to use Bartholomew's cards. Drawing is now regularly taught by specially qualified teachers in all the grades.

CO-EDUCATION OF THE SEXES.

Of the thirteen grammar schools of San Francisco, three are for girls alone, three for boys alone, and seven mixed. The preference of parents can thus be gratified in the selection of a school. Public opinion obviously favors the natural order. Deputy Superintendent Swett, in his last annual report, makes copious extracts from prominent educators, all favoring the co-education of the sexes, on the ground that economy is thus secured, discipline and instruction are improved, and individual development is far more sound and healthy.

OAKLAND.

GROWTH OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The first public school in this city was organized in July, 1853, with 16 pupils. The first grammar school was organized in November, 1867. In twenty years the department has increased from one building, with 16 pupils, to buildings containing 36 rooms and 1,500 pupils. Two additional buildings are to be erected. The board of education estimates the expenses for the fiscal year of 1872-73 at $50,000, exclusive of building fund. The course of study is the same as in the San Francisco schools. Vocal music and drawing are taught in all the classes. Annual cost per pupil for tuition, $23.23.

SAN JOSE.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

In San José, the course of study requires eight years below the high school. The high-school course occupies two years. The course of study is so arranged as to compel semi-annual examinations and promotions. The city superintendent recommends the erection of a spacious building, to be devoted to a high and cosmopolitan school, in which there shall be a practical business and commercial department, where telegraphy and phonography shall be taught; also the principal modern languages, and where a sufficient knowledge of Latin and Greek can be acquired to enter the college of letters in the State university. He recommends the support of the public schools, on the ground of economy. "It costs, on an average, $1,200 to convict and punish each criminal, while the schools can be maintained at a cost of not more than $200 for each child. School-houses are cheaper than jails or penitentiaries." Value of school property, $86,450; cost of tuition per pupil, $21.80.

DEATH OF HON. EDWARD TOMPKINS..

Hon. Edward Tompkins, of Oakland, California, who gave $50,000 for the endowment of the professorship of Oriental languages and literature in the University of California, died at his residence on the 19th of November, 1872. He was a lawyer by profession, and a scholar, and had been for some time a member of the State senate, and was always a devoted friend of learning.

FACTS FROM THE UNITED STATES CENSUS.

Area and population.-In 1870 California was the twenty-fourth State in population, having 560,247 inhabitants within an area of 188,981 square miles; an average of 2.29 persons to the square mile. This population consisted of 449,424 whites, 4,272 colored, 7,241 Indians, and 49,310 Chinese. Of these numbers 350,416 were natives of the United States, and 209,831 were foreign-born. Of the native residents of the State, 162,093 whites, 1,074 colored, 6,251 Indians, and 486 Chinese were born within its borders, while of the foreign residents 29,701 were born in Germany, 54,421 in Ireland, and 17,699 in England.

School attendance.-According to Table IX, vol. 1, Census Report, 91,176 persons attended school, and of these 3,578 were foreign-born. The white male scholars numbered 46,539, and the white female scholars 44,091, (an aggregate of 90,630 white scholars.) The colored male scholars numbered 203, and the colored female scholars 170, (an aggregate colored attendance of 373;) 25 Indian males, and 32 females, (an aggregate of 57,) attended school; also 114 male and 2 female Chinese, (an aggregate of 116.) Illiterates.-The number of inhabitants of all races, 10 years old and over, unable to write was 31,716, including 2,853 Chinese and 1,789 Indians. Of these 22,196 were foreign-born.

Age, sex, and race of illiterates.—Of 1,941 white illiterates from 10 to 15 years of age, 1,092 were males and 849 were females; there were 2,018 white illiterates between the ages of 15 and 21, of whom 1,179 were males and 839 females, while of 22,199 white illiterates 21 years old and over, 12,362 were males and 9,837 females, making an aggregate of 26,158 white illiterates for the State. Of 45 colored illiterates reported between the ages of 10 and 15, 24 were males and 21 females. Of 64 colored illiterates from 15 to 21 years old, 30 were males and 34 females; while of 807 colored illiterates of 21 years old and over, 468 were males and 339 females.

Educational institutions. According to Table XII, vol. 1, Census Report, the total number of educational institutions was 1,548, having 1,054 male and 1,390 female teachers, with 45,217 male and 40,290 female pupils.

Amount and source of educational income.-The total income of all the educational institutions was $2,946,308, of which $59,057 were derived from endowments, $1,669,464 from taxation and public funds, and $1,217,787 from tuition and other sources.

Public schools.-The income appertaining to the public (normal, high, grammar, graded and ungraded common) schools for educating their 75,527 pupils, was $1,627,733, of which sum $357 were derived from endowments, $1,519,348 from taxation and public funds, and $108,028 from tuition and other sources.

Colleges. The 17 colleges reported, with their 156 teachers and 3,046 pupils, had a total income of $595,886.

Academies. The 5 academies reported, with 21 teachers and 198 pupils, had a total income of $24,000, derived from tuition and other sources.

Private schools.-The 154 (private) day and boarding schools, with 267 teachers and 4,601 pupils, possessed a total income of $243,589 from tuition and other sources.

Libraries. The libraries of the State were: Public, 744, containing 159,625 volumes; private, 873, containing 314,674 volumes, making a total of 1,617 libraries, with 474,299 volumes.

The press. The 201 periodicals issued in the State had an aggregate circulation of 491,903 copies, and an aggregate annual issue of 47,472,756.

Churches. Of the 643 church organizations, 532 had edifices, with 195,558 sittings, and the church property was valued at $7,404,235.

Pauperism. The paupers numbered 991, of whom 351 were native whites, 3 native colored, and 637 foreigners.

Criminals. Of the 1,574 prisoners 662 were native whites, 6 native colored, and 906 were foreigners.

Age and sex of population. Of the total population of California, 137,129 persons were from 5 to 18 years of age; of these, 71,086 were males and 66,043 were females. The number of persons 10 years old and over was 430,444, of whom 283,740 were males and 146,704 were females.

Occupations.-Two hundred and twenty-four thousand eight hundred and sixtyeight males and 13,780 females of these ages were engaged in various occupations; of these 238,648 occupied persons, 47,863 were engaged in agricultural pursuits, 76,112 in professional and personal services, 33,165 in trade and transportation, and 81,508 in manufactures and mechanical aud mining industries.

Age and sex of working population.-Of the 238,648 employed persons 1,585 males and 629 females (a total of 2,214 persons) were between the ages of 10 and 15; 219,777 males and 12,972 females (a total of 232,749 persons) between the ages of 16 and 59, and 3,506 males and 179 females (a total of 3,685 persons) were 60 years old and over.

LIST OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.

Hon. H. N. BOLANDER, State superintendent of public instruction, Sacramento.