on petition of the heads of families representing fifteen children between 

 the ages of five and seventeen years. There are at the present time 3,223 

 districts in the State, counting San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland and 

 other cities as forming, respectively, but one district. Cities of the fifth 

 class and above may have by charter provisions extra school facilities over 

 and above those of the common school districts, such, for instance, as city 

 supervision, a school board instead of a board of school trustees, special 

 teachers, kindergarten classes of primary schools, etc., for which facilities, 

 however, they must pay from special city funds. Revenue for the main- 

 tenance of the common district school, except for school buildings, which 

 is provided by district tax or bonds, is derived from the State and the county 

 in about equal proportion. Cities and school districts having more than 

 four or five teachers usually supplement the State and county funds by 

 local city or district special taxes. At the close of the school year ending 

 June 30, 1905, there were 7,884 teachers employed in the primary and 

 grammar schools of the State system. 



The State University has grown and expanded from an agricultural 

 college conceived at the beginning to a great institution embracing courses 

 of instruction that qualify for every profession and vocation of life. Special- 

 ists are employed for every department and 3,000 students are now enrolled 

 for the current year. Eminent scientists devote their entire time to profound 

 research and investigation. 



From one State normal school there have grown to be five, located in 

 different parts of the State for the convenience of the people. These schools 

 are becoming more and more technical schools for the special preparation 

 of teachers. The standards of admission and qualifications for graduation 

 have gradually been raised. The members of the several faculties are 

 educational experts — graduates of universities and specialists in some 

 chosen field of education, and all are required to be experienced teachers 

 before they can become members of the faculties. Notwithstanding the 

 raised standards of qualifications for admission, enrollment in every one of 

 these normal schools is greater for the present year than ever before in its 

 history. Only professionally trained teachers or those with considerable 

 experience have much chance of employment In the public schools of the 

 State. 



There are now 169 high schools in the State. Fifty-one out of fifty- 

 seven counties have one or more high schools, and thus every part of the 

 State is within easy access of the means for advanced education and prepa- 

 ration for college. High schools in the main are supported by local taxation, 

 but the State has within the past three years extended them recognition 

 and Incorporated them into the State system and now contributes about 

 one-fourth of their cost. An ad valorem tax equal to $15 for every student 

 in attendance is levied upon all the property of the State, the money col- 

 lected and paid into the State treasury and distributed as State aid in the 

 following manner: One-third is given pro rata to all the high schools, irre- 

 spective of enrollment or attendance, and two-thirds is given in proportion 

 to average daily attendance. Average daily attendance In the high schools 

 at the close of last school year was 19,016, and the number of teachers 

 regularly employed In the high schools at that time was 999. 



A polytechnic school was provided for by an act of the Legislature of 

 1901 ; the modest sum of $50,000 was first appropriated. The greater part 

 of this was used In purchasing 180 acres of land near the city of San Luis 

 Obispo, on the coast in the south-central part of the State. Agriculture and 

 animal industry are made the bases of the work, but as the institution has 

 developed, instruction in various trades has been provided. From the begin- 

 ning a good strong academic course has been provided. At first the attend- 

 ance was small, but at the present time there are about 100 students 

 enrolled. A number of buildings have been constructed on the grounds; 

 the administration building, a dormitory, a carpenter shop, a blacksmith 

 shop where forging and iron work are done; machine and electrical build- 

 ing, poultry houses, dairy barns, etc. Students that have completed the 

 grammar grade of the public schools or a course equivalent thereto are 



