as required by Section 1532 of the Political Code.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM T. WELCKER,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
REPORT.
The following statistical summaries show the condition of the
public schools of this State for the school years commencing July 1,
1882, and July 1, 1888, and ending June 30, 1883, and June 30, 1884.
STATISTICAL SUMMARIES.
The actual and comparative condition and progress of the public
schools of California for the years commencing July 1, 1882, and
July 1, 1883, and ending June 30, 1883, and June 30, 1884:
I. CENSUS STATISTICS.
(a.) Enumeration of Children.
Number of white boys between the ages of 5 and 17 years.
Number of white girls between the ages of 5 and 17 years
Number of white children between the ages of 5 and 17 years..
Number of white children between the ages of 5 and 17 j'ears,
in 1882
Increase
Number of negro boys between the ages of 5 and 17 years.
Number of negro girls between the ages of 6 and 17 years.
Number of negro children between the ages of 5 and 17 years-.
Number of negro children between the ages of 5 and 17 years,
in'18S2 -..
Increase
Number of Indian boys between the ages of 5 and 17 years
Number of Indian girls between the ages of 5 and 17 years
Number of Indian children between the ages of 6 and 17 years.
Number of Indian children between the ages of 5 and 17 years,
in 1882
Increase
Total number of census children between the ages of 5 and 17
years
Total number of census children between the ages of 5 and 17
vears. in 1882
Increase
Number of white children under 5 years of age
Number of negro children under5 years of age
Number of Indian children under 5 years of age.
Number of children under 5 years of age
111,497
109,457
220,954
576
627
1,103
441
348
222,846
86,135
396
178
86,709
117,304
115,105
232,409
214,368
18,041
635
1,304
1,120
184
47'2
381
853
842
11
235,672
216,330
19,3 42
87,104
350
189
87,643
OU,'±3U
Increase - _ - _
1,153
Total number of children under 17 j^ears of age _
309,555
323,315
Total number of children under 17 years of age in 1882
302,820
20,495
The percentage of increase of census children from 1866 to 1879,
and of decrease from 1879 to 1881, and increase from 1881 to 1884:
From 1866 to 1867. - - 10.80 percent
From 1867 to 1868 8.30 per cent
From ISfiS t(i 1869 8.28 per cent
From 1869 to 1870 10.04 per cent
From 1870 to 1871 6.84 percent
From 1871 to 1872 5.56 per cent
From 1872 to 1873 3.10 percent
From 1873 to 1874 No comparison possible
From 1874 to 1875 7.42 percent
From 1875 to 1876 7.71 percent
From 1876 to 1877 8.27 per cent
From 1877 to 1878 2.70 percent
From 1878 to 1879 5.32 per cent
From 1879 to 1880, the decrease was 0.20 per cent
From 1880 to 1881, the decrease was 2.19 percent
From 1881 to 1882, the increase was 2.41 percent
From 1882 to 1883, the increase was -•— 3.01 percent
From 1883 to 1884, the increase was 5.31 percent
(1.) At Public Schools.
Number of white children who attended public schools at any
time during the school year
Number of negro children who attended public schools at any
time during the school year
Number of Indian children who attended public schools at any
time during the school year
Average number of children belonging to the public schools —
Average daily attendance of children 1
Bercentage of total number enrolled I
Percentage of total number enrolled in 1882 1
Increase.
Percentage of average number belonging
Percentage of average number belonging in 1882.
Decrease
Percentage over daily attendance
Percentage over daily attendance in 1882.
Increase
155,956
710
205
122,251
112,594
78.53
54.85
50.52
163,383
839
191
126,133
124,714
72.00
70.36
.64
53.52
53.64
.12
53.09
49.54
The following table exhibits the percentage of daily attendance,
average number belonging, and enrollment, from 1866 to 1884:
Ykar.
Listed on
Census.
Enrolled
in Public
Schools.
Per-
centage
Enrolled.
Average
Number
Belonging
to Public
Schools.
Per-
centage.
Average
Daily
Attendance.
Per-
centage.
186fi
1867
1868
3 869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
188.3
1884
85,152
94,349
102,183
110,642
121,751
130,116
137.351
141,610
159,717
171,563
184,787
200,067
205,475
216,404
215,978
211,237
216,330
222,846
235,672
37,906
54,726 I
60,946 I
67,834
70,030
83,628
92,255
97,681
105,890
116,896
126,220
1.35,335
138,597
144,806
148,885
149,870
152,217
174,611
179,801
44.51
58.00
59.64
61.31
57.44
64.27
67.55
68.96
66.29
68.14
63.80
67.64
67.45
66.91
68.93
70.95
70.36
78.53
72.00
28,232
41,411
45,667
54,168
50,155 I
65,949
71,481
71,170
70,279
77,350
91,784
97,257
103,006
105,837
110,279
114,486
116,047
122,251
126,133
33.15
43.89
44.69
47.15
41.19
50.68
51.04
50.26
44.00
45.08
49.66
48.74
50.13
48.95
51.06
54.19
53.64
54.85
53.52
64,375
63,063
63,651
69,658
83,391
89,539
94,696
98,468
100,966
105,541
107,177
112,594
124,714
46.86
44.53
39.85
40.60
45.13
44.75
46.08
45.50
46.75
49.96
49.54
50.52
53.09
(2) At Private Schools.
Number of white census children who attended only private
schools at anv time during the school year
15,891
29
37
17,903
40
Number of negro census children who attended only private
schools at any time during the school year ."_.
Number of Indian census children who attended only private
schools at anv time during the school year __
10
Total number of census children who attended only private
schools at any time during the school year .
15,957 i 17.Q.1.'?
'
Percentage of census children who attended only private schools-
Percentage of census children who attended only private schools
in 1882....
7.11
7.10
6.74
Increase.
.36
Percentage of census children attending private schools from 1866
to 1884:
Yeab.
Listed on
Census.
Enrolled
in Private
Schools.
Percent-
age.
1866.. 85,152 : 25,475
1867 94,349 18,182
1868 102,183 17,654
1869 110,642 17,344
1870 121,751 24,654
1871 130,116 17,029
1872 137,351 13,787
1873 141.610 12,507
1874 I 159,717 14,149
1875 . i 171,563 15,021
1876 184,787 14,625
1877 :. i 200,067 15,344
1878 ' 205,475 15,310
1879 216,404 15,432
1880 215.978 14,953
1881 ' 211,237 13,898
1882... I 216,330 14,572
1883 222,846 i 15,957
1884.. I 235,672 I 17,953
29.92
19.38
17.28
15.68
20.33
13.50
10.04
8.84
8.86
8.75
7.90
7.67
7.45
7.14
6.97
6.58
6.74
7.11
7.1(>
(3.) At No Schools.
Number of white census children who did not attend any school
during the school year
Number of negro census children who did not attend any school
during the school year
Number of Indian census children who did not attend any school
during the school year '.
Total numberof census children who did not attend any school
during the school year
Percentage of white census children who did not attend any
school during the school year
Percentage of white census children who did not attend any
school in 1882 .. ._
Decrease
By the above table it appears that 53,552 census children did not
attend school during the year ending June 30, 1884; or almost one
fourth of the children would seem to be growing up without educa-
tion. But so disastrous a conclusion is by no means warranted by
the real facts. Census children are those between ^'I'f and seventeen;
but the law empowers Trustees to exclude all under six years of age.
But few under seven years attend ; many parents do not send their
children until they are nine, ten, and some even twelve years of age.
Again, vast numbers of children who have attended from seven to
fourteen years of age are withdrawn mostly because of the necessities
of their parents, and to learn trades or business of some kind; and
these, although still census children for three years, have already
attended during seven years. Others are withdrawn for a year or
more at a time from ill health, who have attended and will again.
9
Moreover, there are some who expect to attend after they shall be
seventeen years old.
Since 1866 the non-attendance of census children has been as fol-
lows :
Listed on
Census.
Attended
no School.
Percent-
age.
1866. 85,
1867 94,:
1868 102,
1869 110,
1870 121,
1871 130,
1872 135
1873 141,
1874 159,
1875 : 171,
1876 j 184,
1877 200,
1878 205,
1879 ' 216,
1880 215;
1881 211,
1882 I 216,
1883 222,
1884 235,
,152
21,771 :
25.57
349
21,441 i
22.62
,183
23,583
23.08
642
25.464
23.01
751
27,067 i
22.23
,116
29,459
22.64
351 1
30,781 1
22.41
610
31,422 '
22.19
717
39,678 ,
24.84
563 :
39,646
23.11
787 '
43.023
23.29
067 i
49,035 j
24.61
475
50,674 !
24.66
404
56,369
26.05
978
52,140 :
24.17
237 '
47,469
22.42
330 i
49,541
22.90
846 '
49,537 1
22.23
672
53,552 1
22.72
To recapitulate:
1883.
Total number of census children who attended public schools
at any time during the school year 156,871
Total number of census children who attended only private
schools at any time during the school year 15,957
Total number of census children who did not attend any school
during the school year 49,537
164,413
17,953
53,452
Percentage of census children enrolled in public schools 78.53
Percentage of census children enrolled in private schools 7.16
Percentage of census children who did not attend any school. _ 22.23
76.29
7.61
22.68
Still, to make a true exhibit of the extent to which the public schools
are utilized by the children of the State, we must not take the num-
ber enrolled, which is too great, because some attend a day, or a veiy
few days, and never come again. Neither should we take the aver-
age daily attendance, for the number of those who may fairly be
considered as pupils of the school is greater than the average daily
attendance; so we must take the average number belonging, a number
which is calculated in a peculiar manner. Thus we have the follow-
ing table:
Number of census children belonging to public schools ..
Number of census children attending private schools
Number of census children not attending any school
Percentage of census children belonging to public schools
Percentage of census children attending private schools.-
Percentage of census children not attending any school
....
122,251
15,957
49,537
126,133
17,953
53,452
54.86
7.16
22.23
53.52
7.61
22.68
10
(C.) NATIVITY OF CENSUS CHILDREN.
For 1883, the Census Marslials reported the nativity of 322,094
children, not more than seventeen years of age. According to these
reports, we had in this State in 1883 :
Native bora children, both parents native born
Native born children, one parent foreign born _
Native born children, both parents foreign born
Foreign born children
158,722
44,341
113,160
5,871
Or, expressed in percentage, in 1883:
Per cent of our children of native born parents
Per cent of our children who had one foreign parent
Per ceiit of our children who were of foreign parents
49.27
13.77
35.13
For 1884, the Census Marshals reported the nativity of 319,286
children not more than seventeen years of age. According to these
reports, we had in tliis State in 1884 :
Native born children, both parents native born
Native born children, one parent foreign born .
Native born children, both jiareuts foreign born
Foreign born children
157,835
44,805
112,359
4,287
Or, expressed in percentage, in 1884 :
,
.•.^
1884.
Per cent of children of native born parents
Per cent of children who had one parent for^^n born
Per cent of children who were of foreign parents
49.43
14.03
35.19
II. SCHOOL STATISTICS.
•
18S3.
1884.
Number of school districts _
2,379
2,395
Number of school districts in 1882 .
2,177
Increase.- .. _. _.
216
Number of grammar schools
1,191
1,971
1,155
Number of primary schools
2,042
Total number of schools _
3,232
3,262
Total number of schools in 1882 .
3.036
Increase.. .
226
11
1883.
1884.
[b.) School Attendance.
Whole number of boys enrolled on register
90,237
84,374
92,933
86,868
174,611
179,801
Tot'^l number enrolled in 1882
168,024
Increase
11,777
122,251
126,133
116,047
Increase..
10,086
112,594
124,714
107,177
Increase .
1,587
Number enrolled in High Schools or advanced grade
Number enrolled in Grammar Schools
Number enrolled in Primary Schools
4,035
44,829
122,212
4,351
48,415
126,681
Percentage of pupils in High Schools
Percentage of pupils in Grammar Schools
2.37
26.18
2.43
26.98
Percentage of pupils in Primarv Schools
71.45
70.59
(c.) Length of School Terms.
31
53
35
Increase
18
Districts maintaining schools six mouths or over, but less than
eight months __ _.
738
800
Districts maintaining schools six months or over, but less than
820
20
Districts maintaining schools eight months or over
1,564
1,515
Districts maintaininsr schools eight months or over iu 1882
1,246
Increase -
Average number of months schools were maintained for all the
schools of the State
Average number of months schools were maintained for all the
schools of the State, in 1882
7.55
Decrease
(d.) Teachers.
Number of male teachers
Number of male teachers in 1882.
1,114
Increase.
Total number of teachers
Total number of teachers in 1882.
3,930
Increase.
269
7.60
7.77
.17
1,108
1,156
Decrease . _ _
48
Number of female teachers
Number of female teachers in 1882 _ ._
2,816
2,964
2.621
343
4,082
3,777
305
12
1883.
1S84.
$79 30
$81 38
79 67
Increai5e
$1 71
$64 95
$65 37
64 84
Increase
$0 53
3,179
3,385
3,298
Increase
87
Number of teachers who subscribed for some educational journal.
Number of teachers who are graduates of California State
1,624
348
234
1,729
472
261
(e.) Count)/ Superinicndents.
Number of school visits made by County Superintendents
Number of school visits made by County Superintendents in 1882.
3,401
3,771
5,138
Decrease
1,367
Number of schools not visited by County Superintendents
1882
314
180
161
Increase
Number of city and county certificates granted to males__
Number of city and county certificates granted to females.
Number of certificates renewed
Number of a2:)plicants rejected
Amount of salaries paid County Superintendents
Amount of salaries paid County Superintendents in 1882.
Increase
Average annual salary paid County Superintendents
Average annual salary paid County Superintendents in 1882.
Increase
Number of new school liouses erected
Number of new school houses erected in 1882.
399
933
397
769
$50,045 50
$961 25
104
19
364
1,002
935
1,012
$52,030 50
49,530 00
$2,500 50
$1,000 59
952 52
$48^
96
111
Decrease
15
13
1884.
Districts having suitable accommodations for all pupils attend-
ing school
Districts not having suitable accommodations for all pupils
attending school
Districts whose schools are provided with water-closets
Districts whose schools are not provided with water-closets
Districts having sufficient grounds
Districts not having sufficient grounds
Districts whose school grounds are suitably improved
Districts whose school grounds are not suitably improved
Districts whose school houses are well ventilated
Districts whose school houses are not well ventilated
Districts whose schools are supplied with good furniture
Districts whose schools are supplied with passable furniture
Districts whose schools are supplied with poor furniture
Districts whose schools are well supplied with apparatus
Districts whose schools are passably supplied with apparatus —
Districts whose schools are poorly supplied with apparatus
ITumber of school visits made by Trustees
Number of school visits made by other persons-
2,183
230
2,131
272
2,272
139
1,026
1,386
2,261
142
1,550
449
416
1,195
800
420
11,807
80,231
2,128
• 360
2,231
257
2,227
164
2,078
1,409
2,256
231
1,616
496
376
1,340
806
337
11,590
87,794
Teachers' Institute.®
Number of Institutes held ] 41
Number of Institutes held in 1882 ;
Increase
Number of teachers who attended Institutes 1 3,179
Number of teachers who attended Institutes in 1882 ,
Increase I
42
41
3,385
3,298
* Several counties held no Institute within the school year by changing from Spring to Autumn.
III. FINANCIAL STATISTICS.
1883.
(a.) Receipts. I
Balance on hand at beginning of school year j $648,541 76
Received from State apportionments 1,850,834 64
Received from county apportionments j 747,947 98
Received from citj'and district taxes 567,870 98
Received frona miscellaneous sources (sale of bonds, rents, etc.) - 32,462 71
Total receipts-
Percentage of school funds from State apportionments-..
Percentage of school funds from county apportionments
Percentage of school funds from city and district taxes.-
Percentage of school funds from other sources
Amount of State apportionments per census child
Amount of State apportionments per census child in 1882.
Decrease.
Amount of county apportionments per census child
Amount of county apjJortionments per census child in 1882.
Increase
,847,658 07
$587,958 06
1,893,011 34
789,901 23
621,642 33
27,715 40
$3,920,228 36
$8 74
$3 31
$0 23
$3 35
3 25
$0 10
14
Total receipts per census child
$17 31
$16 63
Total receipts per census child in 1882 -
17 52
Decrease .
$0 89
(b.) Expenditures for School Purposes.
Amount paid for teachers' salaries .
$2,511,078 40
419,760 85
61,032 26
26,504 11
$2,573,623 54
Amount paid lor rents, repairs, fuel, and contingent expenses
Amount paid for school libraries _.
415,587 39
59,642 08
Amount paid for school apparatus
23,204 69
Total current expenses
$3,018,375 62
293,839 66
$3,072,057 70
Amount paid for sites, buildings, and school furniture
292,165 85
$3,312,215 28
$3,364,223 55
$83 18
13 92
2 02
88
$83 66
Percentage of current expenses for contingent expenses, etc
Percentage of current expenses for school libraries
13 75
1 84
Percentage of current expenses for school apparatus.
75
Cost of tuition per scholar enrolled in the public schools
Cost of tuition per scholar enrolled in the public schools in 1882.
$14 38
$14 36
14 32
Increase per scholar __
$0 04
Cost of tuition per scholar, average number belonging
$20 54
$20 40
Cost of tuition per scholar, average number belonging in 1882
20 74
Decrease per scholar
$0 34
Cost of tuition per scholar, average daily attendance
$22 30
'S20 60
Cost of tuition per scholar, average daily attendance in 1882.
22 45
Decrease per scholar
$1 85
Total cost (current expenses) per scholar enrolled in the public
schools _. _ _ __ _ _
$17 28
$17 08
17 27
Total cost (current expenses) per scholar enrolled in the public
schools in 1882
Decrease per scholar
$0 19
Total cost (current expenses) per scholar — average number
belonging .
$24 85
$23 56
$25 00
Total cost (current expenses) per scholar — average number
belonging in 1882 .
Decrease per scholar
$1 44
Total cost (current expenses) per scholar — average daily attend-
ance .
$26 81
$24 61
27 07
Total cost (current expenses) per scholar, average daily attend-
ance in 1882
Decrease per scholar
$2 46
Valuation of School Property.
Valuation of sites, school houses, and furniture
$6,866,577 51
373,254 48
167,083 00
$7,346,276 00
403,883 00
186,461 00
Valuation of school apparatus .
Total valuation of school property ._
$7,406,914 99
$7,936,620 00
7,237,669 00
Total valuation of school property in 1882
Increase
$698,951 00
15
GENERAL CONDITION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The foregoing summaries display, in a condensed shape, the actual
condition of the public schools of California, and the signs of con-
tinual progress towards a better condition. The numerous tables
following later in the report show these matters more in detail.
I am able to state that our public schools are in good condition, and
are continually reaching forth towards a betterment.
The influence of the Normal Schools is being felt more and more ;
and the graduates of the State University are becoming more and
more frequently members of the teaching profession. Although
there is room for much improvement in this direction, still it grati-
fies me to believe that the people are evincing greater interest in the
schools where their children are being educated. There is much
lilDerality and enlightened foresight displayed in the manner in
which local taxes are self-imposed, and in the cheerfulness with
which they are paid for "additional school facilities."
More attention is also paid to the election of proper men for the
highly responsible office of School Trustees. The most upright and
the wisest men in a district should be chosen to fill those offices.
A glance at the extracts from the reports of the County Super-
intendents will show, with a very few regretable exceptions, an
announcement of good condition, and progress so constant as to
be monotonous; but it is a blessed monotony, and that single tone
is one of sweet music, which we would not wish to disturb.
The one great want in the public schools is a greater attention
on the part of teachers and other authorities to moral instruction —
to character building. To turn out good, honest, clean-living men
and women, is that which should be, not merely acknowledged, but
felt to be the principal end and aim of the public schools; that
nothing should come before or be allowed to interfere with this good
design ; that intellectual education should be subordinated to it, and
that this instruction should be not merely incidental, coming to the
front on all suitable occasions, but that it should have its regular
and frequent place on the programme of exercises. It should never
be omitted or postponed in favor of anything else.
SOURCES OF SCHOOL REVENUE.
The public sources of revenue to support the schools are three :
the State fund, the county fund, and the district or local fund. The
State fund is derived mainly from a property tax, but is supplemented
by a poll tax, and by interest on certain bonds held in trust by the
State for the benefit of the public schools, and also by interest on
balance yet due for school lands purchased from the State.
In the school year beginning July 1, 1882, and ending June 30,
1883, there was received from interest on bonds, |127,523 35; from
interest on school lands, $76,140 85; and the following year, from
interest on bonds, $126,836 10 ; and from interest on school lands,
$40,227 26.
In the school year ending June 30, 1883, the fund from poll tax
w^as $271,703 15, and in the next year, $289,584 37.
It is to be feared that the poll tax is not so fully collected as it
should be; it is a disagreeable tax to collect, and the opportunities of
escape by unconscientious individuals, are great. And yet, every
16
effort should be made to secure a complete collection, since it forms
an important element in the school revenue.
By the latest report of the Controller to this office, the securities
held in trust by the State Treasurer for the School Fund, were as