can. With perhaps ninety-five per cent of identity there is five per cent of di- 

 vergence, and this five per cent is worth emphasizing even to exaggeration. 

 We know our friends by their slight differences in feature or expression, not 

 by their common humanity. Much of this divergence is already fading away. 

 Scenery and climate remain, but there is less elbow-room, and the unearned 

 increment is disappearing. That which is solid will endure; the rest will 

 vanish. The forces that ally us to the East are growing stronger every year 

 with the immigration of men with new ideas. The vigorous growth of the 

 two universities in California insures the elevation as well as the retention of 

 these ideas. Through their influence California will contribute a generous 

 share to the social development of the East, and be a giver as well as a 

 receiver. 



To-day the pressure of higher education is greater to the square mile, 

 if we may use such an expression, than anywhere else in our country. 

 In no other State is the path from the farmhouse to the college so well 

 trodden as here. It requires no prophet to forecast the educational pre- 

 eminence of California, for the basis of intellectual development is already 

 assured. But however close the alliance with Eastern culture, to the last 

 certain traits will persist. California is the most cosmopolitan of all the 

 States of the Union, and such she will remain. Whatever the fates may 

 bring, her people will be tolerant, hopeful, and adequate, sure of them- 

 selves, masters of the present, fearless of the future. 



State System of Education 



THOMAS J. KIRK. 



THE State system of public education in California has many points in 

 common with other State systems; tuition and admission are free, 

 all property contributes to its support, equal opportunities for educa- 

 tion are accorded to both males and females; the State Legislature 

 exercises control. 



In organization, in plan of support, in methods of control, and 

 in many points of detail, however, the public school system of California is 

 quite different from that of any other State. The system embraces primary 

 and grammar schools, high schools, normal schools, a technical school and 

 the State University. Every portion of the State Is embraced within some 

 primary or grammar school district, and the Constitution provides that at 

 least a six months' school must be maintained annually in every district; 

 as a matter of fact an average of eight months is maintained. 



With the political organization of the State, provision was made for 

 the establishment and maintenance of primary and grammar schools; next 

 the university was established. The agriculturalists first conceived it and 

 its initial work was upon lines intended to be in the interests of farmers. 

 A normal school for the training of teachers was third in the State system 

 of schools; then followed provisions for high schools, and last a technical 

 school was established. 



The primary and grammar schools at the beginning were, and they are 

 still, regarded as first in importance. It seems to be specially impressed 

 upon the people of California that the primary school is the incubator of 

 American citizenship and that the grammar school is the bulwark of Ameri- 

 can liberty. At the outset these elementary schools were granted by the 

 fundamental law of the State a large measure of support, and It was de- 

 clared that all funds derived through State sources should be used ex- 

 clusively for the support of such schools. The sacredness in which the 

 primary and grammar schools are held and the jealousy with which their 

 interests and provisions are guarded are probably the most deeply rooted 

 of any public matter in the hearts and sentiments of the people of Cali- 

 fornia. A new school district may be carved out of an existing district or 

 a number of districts in the discretion of the County Board of Supervisors 



