The Early Days of Education in Los Angeles and in LAUSD

This site briefly explores the history of the Los Angeles School System. Use the various sites to explore areas of interest and to jump to related sites which will provide enrichment and more detailed information. (For a timeline of American Educational History, click here)

• Early Los Angeles County Schools
• Timeline of Los Angeles City Schools and the Los Angeles Unified School District
• 100 Year History from 1855 -1955 (1955 magazine published by LAUSD)
• 1882 Annual Board Report

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This 1948 digest of historical information was prepared by staff members of the Curriculum Division, working under the leadership of Mrs. Gertrude R. Martin, curriculum supervisor of grades three and four, for use by the school personnel of the Los Angeles City School Districts in the 1948 Annual Observance of California Public Schools Week, April 26-30.

A copy of this manuscript was placed in the library of every school in Los Angeles as resource material for use in honoring the centennial anniversary of the founding of the first public school in Los Angeles in 1855. The original booklet that was made from that report was prepared by the Instructional Services Division in 1955 100 Years of Public Education (Bates) (A master's thesis project published in 1928 by Elizabeth Bates. )

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Table of Contents

• The First School in the State under the Spanish Regime
• Schools in the state under the Mexican Regime
• Native Californians were interested in education for their children
• First Schools in the State about the time of the American Occupation
• San Francisco's First Public School
• Gold Rush Closes Schools
• First Free Public School Ordinance, 1850
• Pioneer Schools- Content
• School Curriculum Expanded in 1863
• Pioneer Schools In Los Angeles-
• Typical Pioneer School Room and Day for Students
• Writing Lessons
• Discipline- Spanish Period
• Governor Sola's Report on California's Schools
• First Schools in Los Angeles Under Mexico
• Selection of Teachers
• School Vacations
• Attendance Problems
• Los Angeles Schools Before 1846
• Don Ygnacio's Educational Philosophy
• Classroom Arrangements
• Lancastrian Method
• School Inventory
• Last School Under Mexican Regime
• Governor Micheltorena and the First Attempt at State Aid for Education
• Early American Schools in Los Angeles - Boys ONLY
• Shortages Plague Early Schools
• Teacher Contracts - Bilingual Education
• Early Bilingual Education
• More Attendance Problems
• First Education Tax
• The Beginning of Free Public School in Los Angeles
• First Public School Building in Los Angeles
• First in Teachers in Los Angeles Public Schools
• Campus Beautification - School Number 1
• First School Examinations
• Janitorial Services
• Financial Troubles - 1860-1870
• School for Girls - School For Boys
• The Oldest School Site - San Pedro Street School
• Election of School Offices
• The First Registers
• The State Provides for City Board of Education
• The First High School in Los Angeles - 1873
• Graduation Exercises of 1884
• A Brief Summary
• The First Newspapers
• Public Schools

The First School in the State under the Spanish Regime

Schools in the state under the Mexican Regime

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No attempt has been made to designate the first pioneer school under the Mexican regime. The transition from Spanish to Mexican rulership effected little change in the lives of the colonists. Spain's antiquated and illiberal methods of colonization did not lay too heavily on the people. The trade laws were suppressive but the colonists circumvented the problem by resorting to smuggling contraband. Contraband was almost necessary in order that the group might survive. Spain, being a long way from California,was not effective in enforcing the trade law.

In spite of hard times, Mexico did do somewhat better for education than Spain. School was in session a longer period of time and there was an improvement in the type of teacher.

Native Californians were interested in education for their children

Click Here to learn about the California Missions Take a Virtual tour of the Missions here.

First Schools in the State about the time of the American Occupation.

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The first American school in the state was held in a dilapidated structure located on the Santa Clara Mission grounds. The structure was once a stable. The tile roof leaked and the earthen floor was often damp and wet. When heat was needed, a fire was made on a stone platform stationed in the center of the room. A hole in the roof sometimes provided for the smoke's escape. (Description of Santa Clara School, December, 1846)

The children sat on wooden boxes. They had no supplies, not even slates, paper, or pencils. Textbooks were few and of little variety. As an aid to instruction the teacher, who had a pencil, sometimes wrote a difficult letter on her hand.

School was attended by twenty-five children and it was in session two months. The teacher was Olive Mann Isbell, an immigrant from Illinois. (Ferrier, W.W. Ninety Years of Education in California, p.17) Nothing was said about her pay.

Monterey Pioneer School-

March 1847

When Mrs. Isbell moved to Monterey in March, 1847, she was urged to teach the school in the old adobe customs house. She was guaranteed a salary of $200 a month by the citizens who had obtained her services. All parents who were able paid a fee of six dollars a term for each child. The term consisted of three months.

San Francisco's First Public School

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The first public school in California was opened in San Francisco. (Swett, John, Public School Systems of California, p. 13) In October, 1847, the Town Council contracted for the building of a small, one-room school house on the southwest corner of the Plaza. In February, 1848, a small number of voters elected a Board of School Trustees consisting of five members. The board employed Thomas Douglas as teacher. It was a tuition school under public guidance. It was free only to indigent children. The Council agreed to make up any deficiency in salary to the extent of $400. (Swett, J. Public...p. 13)

Gold Rush Closes Schools

Learn About the Gold Rush in California visit these Websites-

California Gold Rush

History of Women During the Gold Rush

Chronology of Gold Rush Period

Colton Hall

Monterey-March, 1849

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In March, 1849, a town hall, known as Colton Hall, was completed. The lower part of the structure was built for a school and the upper part for town meetings. It was here that the Constitutional Assembly of 1849 was held. It was financed, "out of the slender proceeds of town lots, the labor of convicts, taxes on liquor shops, and fines of gamblers."(Ferrier, W.W., Ninety Years of Education...p. 17) An interesting account is given of the manner in which Mr. Colton was able to extract fines from some of the gamblers in order to obtain the needed funds for the building. (Ferrier, W.W., p.18) The Reverend S.H. Willey opened school in the lower part of the hall soon after it was finished.

First Free Public School Ordinance, 1850

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The first free public school was established in San Francisco in 1850. The ayuntamiento, or town council, of San Francisco passed the first public school ordinance on April 4 of that year, which provided for a school to be taught by J.C. Pelton. The school was to be held in the Baptist Chapel. The length of the school day was from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The week was from Monday through Friday. The number of pupils was limited to 100 and no one was admitted under the age of four or over the age of sixteen. It was necessary to obtain an order from the Chairman of the Committee on Education before any child could be instructed in this school free of charge. Mr. Pelton was to report to the Council the first of each and every month the number of scholars and the progress of the school. (Swett, John, Public School System , p.13)

The Common Council of San Francisco was the first in the state to organize, independent of state law, a free public school. However, it did not provide for a free public school system. It provided for this school only, the one taught by Mr. Pelton.

Nevertheless , these rate-bill schools and the many private ones pioneered the way for the great educational system of California.

The Story of American Public Education

Pioneer Schools- Content

School Curriculum Expanded in 1863

"The School Law of 1863-64 specified the studies to be pursued in the school as follows: arithmetic, geography, grammar, reading, writing, spelling, history of the United States, physiology, and such studies as the trustees might deem advisable." (Swett, John, The History of the Public School System of California, p. 206)

While the offerings of the school had broadened in scope, the emphasis was placed on subject matter. Perhaps the greatest single factor in bringing about a more child-centered course of study was the compulsory education law. The child could no longer be put out of the school, so the curriculum was adjusted to be more student-centered.

County Schools and the Curriculum

Pioneer Schools In Los Angeles-

Under the Spanish Regime

The first record of this school appears in the year 1817. The brief session of about one year seems to have been followed by a vacation period of almost ten years. Maximo Pina was the school master for this first school in Los Angeles. He received a salary of $140 a year for his services.

Little is known of this school or its teacher but a fairly complete description has been written about the one at Monterey. There is every reason to believe that the character of the Los Angeles school was quite similar to that of the one at Monterey.

Click here for a list of the first teachers in Early California

Typical Pioneer School Room and Day for Students

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"The room was long and narrow and dimly lighted. The children sat on rough, wooden benches arranged along the side of the wall. There was a raised platform at one end, sometimes with a railing. It was here that the teacher sat.

The teacher, an old invalided soldier of ill-tempered visage and repulsive presence, was attired in greasy dress of fantastic fashion."(Bancroft, H.H. California Pastoral. p. 502)

Each child, on entering the room, approached the platform and greeted the master thus, " La Mano, Senor Maestro". As the boy approached the teacher in order to kiss his hand, the master in a booming voice, directed him to take his seat. While en route to his seat he threw his hat on top of the ones that were piling up in the corner of the room.

Having disposed of the "greetings" and his hat, each pupil was shown his reading place by an older classmate. Thereupon, he joined with the others in saying his lesson as loudly as he could.

Writing Lessons

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A very definite pattern was set for the writing lesson. The first step was to line the paper. This was done by placing heavy black lines called a "pauta" under the coarse paper and ruling it with a piece of lead. This accomplished, the child took the paper and quill pen to his master. After sharpening the pen, the master set a copy for the child which varied according to his grade of which there were eight. The copy ranged from coarse marks and pothooks to fine writing in the old fashioned round hand. (Bancroft H.H. , California Pastoral, p. 502)

When the child had completed the copy, he returned somewhat reluctantly to the master. It was during the inspection period that the ferule (a flat piece of wood used to punish children) was apt to be used most generously for such offenses as a blot of ink or a mistake in writing. Bancroft, in California Pastoral, gives us a typical conversation between the master and the pupil.

"Here is a blot, you little rascal.' 'Pardon, Senor Maestro, tomorrow I will do better.' " Hold your hand, sirrah!' and the necessary discipline was administered." (p.503)

Discipline- Spanish Period

The ferule (flat piece of wood) was used if the child was not able to recite his reading without a mistake. Actions such as playing truant, spilling ink, or laughing out loud were considered serious enough offenses to warrant the use of the hempen scourge with iron points. (Bancroft H.H. , History of California, Vol. II, pp. 427-8.)

Governor Sola's Report On California Schools

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"In his report of 1817 and 1818, Sola informed the viceroy that each of the four presidios and two pueblos had a primary school where children were taught religion, reading, writing, and reckoning by settlers or retired soldiers of good character." (Bancroft, H.H.,History of California, p. 426)

First Schools in Los Angeles under the Mexican Regime

The first school of this regime was taught by Luciano Valdez. This school session, sometimes open but often closed, extended from 1827 to 1831. Mr. Valdez was dismissed by the ayuntamiento (town council) because he attempted to control the children by means other than corporal punishment. This method was the accepted one for disciplining children. (Guinn, J.M., The Beginning of the School System of Los Angeles, p. 196)

"Many of the old soldier school masters modeled their methods of discipline after Pete Jones' alliterative formula: Lickin' and L'arnin'; no lickin', no l'arnin." (Guinn, J.M., History of Southern California, Vol.III, p. 8)

Selection of the Teacher

School Vacations

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Sometimes vacations occurred as the result of a local rebellion. Then, the older boys and the schoolmaster, if he were able, served as soldiers. Imagine the thrill and adventure such an occasion offered the boys as a respite from the rigid, monotonous school day.

Attendance Problems

Now and then, the teacher was called before the Council to give an accounting as to why school had not been in session the past week or so. His usual explanation was that the children had all run away, but he promised to have them all at school on a specified day. The poorly prepared and poorly paid teachers attracted few pupils.

Los Angeles Schools Before 1846

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From the time the Spanish arrived until the American occupation, not more than ten years of school was held in the pueblo of Los Angeles. Those ten years were interspersed at irregular intervals over a period of sixty-six years. The longest span of continuous instruction was the one maintained from 1838 to 1844.

The teacher in charge of the school during this period was Don Ygnacio Coronel. He received for his services a nominal sum, which usually amounted to about fifteen dollars a month from city funds supplemented by whatever voluntary funds he might collect from his students. Coronel taught at various times during this period depending upon the amount of funds available from the city and the ability or willingness of the parents to pay.

In the first part of the period, this school was located at the Coronel residence on Los Angeles Street near Arcadia. Later, it was located at one of the plaza church buildings. (Willard, C.D., History of Los Angeles City, p.272)

Don Ygnacio's Educational Philosophy

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Don Ygnacio Coronel had a more liberal philosophy of education than most of his predecessors who had come from the military ranks. He depended less on the rod in his method of discipline and he evidently believed that creditable accomplishment was worthy of some kind of reward. When a book or given piece of work was completed satisfactorily, the class was allowed to improvise a dance. Music, on the harp, was provided by Soledad Coronel, daughter and assistant of Don Ygnacio. Since these activities, music and creative dancing, were not a part of the regular program. it was quite a departure that they were allowed at all. This is the first record of any such activities in the school and "Soledad has the honor of being the first woman teacher in the schools of Los Angeles."(Bates, Elizabeth, A Study of the Development of Elementary Education in Los Angeles , p. 8)

Classroom Arrangements

Lancastrian Method

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School Inventory

A translated record of Medina's inventory was made by Stephen C. Foster, esq., (1st superintendent of Los Angeles Schools), for the "Express." It furnishes a good index of the textbooks and equipment that were considered adequate for a school of one hundred children.

"Lancastrian School of Los Angeles

Inventory of the books and furniture in the above institution belonging to the ayumtamiento: thirty-six spelling books, eleven second readers for children, fourteen catechisms by Father Ribaldi, one table (without cover, or joint) to write upon, writing desk, six benches, one blackboard, one large table for children. Los Angeles, February 2, 1844 Guadalupe Medina" (Wilson, J.A. History of Los Angeles County, California, L88, p 71.

Besides the above items, Guinn listed (Guinn, J.M. Los Angeles and Environs, p. 378) some supplies and the amount of money spent for each one; ink $1.00; Blackboard $2.00; string for ruling blackboard 50 cents; earthen jar for water $2.50; inkwell 37 cents. The list is indicative of the meagerness of supplies and equipment and of the type of instruction that was practiced.

Last School under Mexican Regime

Medina's school, the last one under the Mexican regime, was in session less than a year. After a very successful school term of about five months he was recalled to Monterey for military duty. His services were believed to be needed to help put down a rebellion that Castro and Alvarado were supposed to be fomenting.

On his return to Los Angeles, Medina again opened school but this session was destined for an even shorter period of time. Los Angeles was again seized with one of its periodic rebellions. The needs of war came first. The school house became military headquarters for Pico and Castro. The teacher returned to his military duties; and the children received another extended vacation.

Before leaving for Monterey, Medina set aside a day for the examination of his pupils. On this day he demonstrated the effectiveness of his teaching to the patrons of the school, who had been invited for the occasion.

The Bear Flag Revolte of 1846

San Francisco Museum - The Bear Flag Revolt

Governor Micheltorena and the First Attempt at State Aid for Education

Micheltorena, while Governor of California, made an earnest effort to improve the schools of the state. He issued a decree which specified the length of a school week and the time for each day's session. School was to be open every day of the week except Sunday. The hours were from eight to eleven and from two to five. It regulated school attendance. The only reasons for a child not to attend school were: if he were ill, if his parents provided a private tutor for him, or if he had passed the grades that were being taught in school. He believed that everyone, including girls, was entitled to a primary education. He was the first to make an attempt to provide state aid for the schools.

He guaranteed the ayuntamiento that the Pueblo of Los Angeles would receive the sum of $500 from the territorial government for the support of its school. This offer, contrasted with the heretofore available funds for the operation of their schools, seemed to them, a most generous one.

However, when the school funds came, it was in the form of merchandise instead of money. The officials protested but it was merchandise or nothing. Finally, the teacher accepted the merchandise, at a heavy discount, after the ayuntamiento promised to make up the deficit. (Guinn, J.M., Historical and Biographical Record of Los Angeles and Vicinity, p. 116)

Micheltorena was not very effective at establishing or enforcing his plans. This was due to lack of funds and the general disorder and confusion in the affairs of the state with which neither Micheltorena nor Mexico was strong enough to cope. Later, the city of Los Angeles honored Micheltorena by naming one of its public schools as well as one of its principal streets for him.

Early American Schools in Los Angeles- Boys ONLY

Shortages Plague Early Schools

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In Los Angeles, the ayuntamiento, at its first meeting in January 1850, appointed two committeemen to establish a public school. At the following council meeting they reported, that the school had not been opened because they could find no place to house it and no one to teach it. There was a shortage of teachers at this time too.

Women were not considered for the position and men were scarce in the city; many of them had gone to the gold mines. In June a contract was made with Francisco Bustamente in which he agreed to teach for the sum of $60 a month plus a rental fee of $20 for a house in which to keep the school. He promised "to teach the children first, second, and third lessons and likewise to read script, to write and to count, and so much as I may be competent to teach them orthography (spelling) and good morals."(Guinn. J.M. Historical and Biographical Record of Los Angeles and Vicinity, p. 237)

Here are some excerpts from his contract which were translated from the Spanish:

"Children must concur to the school at 7 of the morning, well, clean and neat. Saturday will be dedicated exclusively to review, until the 10 of the morning when they will be dismissed. When the children may be in state to examine them, advise the ayuntamiento, that it may present itself to the examination. June 21, 1850

Abel Sterns

Francisco Bustamente

Jesus Guiardo"

(Bowman, Mary, The First Schools Here, p. 171)

Bustamente, who had been a captain in the Mexican army was a severe disciplinarian, especially in inculcating habits of personal cleanliness. One of his scholars remembers that their hands and fingernails were inspected every morning. If they were not up to the standard neatness the lads were severely punished on the offending members. (Bowman, The First Schools Here, pp. 169-171)

Teacher Contracts- Bilingual Education

The common council, which took the place of the ayuntamiento in July, 1850, also assumed the duties of a school board. Within the first month, applications were received from Hugh Owens and George Wormald. The board accepted the former, who agreed to teach the rudiments of English, Spanish, and French for a salary of $50 a month. "In consideration of the subsidy, paid from public funds, the council was to have the privilege of sending to the school, free of charge, six orphans or others whose parents were poor." (Guinn, J.M. Historical and Biographical Record of Los Angeles and Vicinity p.117) At one time, according to the record, twenty poor children were enrolled in one of the schools, ten boys and ten girls.

In January, 1851, the Reverend Henry Weeks and his wife opened an English school. The Reverend Weeks had charge of the boys and his wife had charge of the girls. They taught for $150 a month, but they provided the school room.

List of Early Teachers

Early Bilingual Education-

Attendance Problems

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First Education Tax

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In the year 1852, the state made an assessment of five cents per $100 of taxable property for educational purposes. In the same year and with the legal sanction of the state, the Los Angeles City Council levied a tax of ten cents per $100 for the support of its schools.

Previous to 1852 the school fund was obtained from money collected almost exclusively from licenses and fines. Even these combined funds soon proved to be inadequate. At this time the number of children attending school was equally divided between the public and the private sector. Due to a lack of funds the Board was forced in 1857, to close its schools for a time. Funds from the state decreased and the number of children who elected to attend the public schools increased. One of the schools was soon reopened thanks to a private contribution.

The following year an ordinance was passed which provided for the establishment and maintenance of the city's public school. At this time all subsidies to private schools were discontinued.

The Beginning of Free Public School in Los Angeles

The City Council, was empowered, by the Ordinance of 1853, to appoint a Board of Education. The Board was given the authority to examine, to employ, and to dismiss teachers and to appoint a marshal to take a census of all children between the ages of 5 and 18. In 1854, the mayor of the city, Stephen C. Foster became the first superintendent of schools.

Click here for photo of the first City Hall

First Public School Building in Los Angeles

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In 1855, the first public school building was opened on the northwest corner of Second and Spring, and the following year a second one was opened on north Main Street. They were known as School No. 1 and School No. 2 respectively. They were two-story brick buildings, each having two school rooms and two recitation rooms. The first one was located in the suburbs of the city. "Nearby was a corral where Wilson, who ran a draying (carting) business kept his horses. Between the school and the corral were clustered small workshops, a windmill, some chicken coops, and a blacksmith's shop which served as terminus of the Butterfield transcontinental stages where they 'fetched up' three times weekly." (Hill, Laurance, La Reina, p. 52)

Click here to see photo of the early stagecoaches

First Teachers in Los Angeles Public Schools

W.A. Wallace, a botanist who had come to the city to study the flora of this region, was appointed teacher of the boys and Miss Louisa Hayes, sister of Benjamin Hayes, a distinguished district judge, was given charge of the girls. (She was the first woman to teach in L.A. Public Schools.) Separate schools were conducted as no coeducation was allowed.

Mr. Wallace did not stay in the profession very long. He was too sensitive to complaints made by the girls and boys to their parents and by the parents to the Board of Education in which he was censored for not knowing fractions and for spending too much of his weekend time on the study of flowers in the foothills (King, L.E., Pioneer Schools and their Teachers, Historical Society of Southern California, Vol. IV, P. 149)

Mr. Wallace was soon succeeded by William McKee, a young Irishman.

Campus Beautification- School No. 1

About this time an attempt was made by the Board to beautify the grounds of Public School No. 1. They purchased twelve black locust trees at a dollar apiece and planted them on the school lot. The grounds were enclosed by a Mexican picket fence, a structure made by interlacing willow poles with a network of rawhide thongs. The fence was neither ornamental nor beautiful but it was useful in protecting the trees from straggling cattle and wandering mustangs, which had the freedom of the streets (Guinn, J.M., Beginnings of the School System of Los Angeles, Hist. Soc. So. Calif., Vol. 8, p.202)

When the squirrels threatened the destruction of the young trees Mr. McKee, the teacher, acquired a shot gun and soon discouraged the squirrels in their effort. Besides the pests, there was the problem of procuring enough water for the trees as Los Angeles had no water system at the time. Water from the zanja was laboriously supplied by carriers who hauled it in carts. When Mr. McKee used water from the school barrel to water the trees, the carrier complained "to the trustees that the gringo 'maestro de escuela' was wasting the public water trying to grow trees on the mesa where any fool might know they wouldn't grow." (Guinn, J.M. Historical and Biographical Record of Los Angeles and Vicinity, p.118) However, Mr. McKee was persistent in his efforts so the "trees survived the attacks of the squirrels and the wrath of the waterman." (Ibid, p.118)

The First School Examinations

The first public school examination ever held in the city was conducted by William McKee and Louisa Hayes. "The boys declaimed and read compositions." Guinn recorded an account of this affair as it was recorded in a local paper, " 'Young ladies were elegantly dressed and formed an assemblage as remarkable for beauty as for intelligence,' says the bachelor editor of the Star.

'A number of well written compositions were read in a graceful and effective manner. Where all were excellent it may seem invidious to mention names by we think the following young ladies were conspicuous for general proficiency: Misses Mary Wheeler, Lucinda Macy, Margaret Brody, Louisa Hoover, Natividad Aguilar.

At the close of the examination several susceptible young gentlemen present, charmed with the proficiency of the young ladies, 'chipped in' and raised a donation of $122 to buy maps and globes for the school.'" (Guinn, J.M., Old time Schools and School Masters of Los Angeles, Hist. Soc. So. Cal., Pub. 3, p.12)

Janitorial Services 

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Guinn said, "that for twenty years, after the establishment of the public school system in Los Angeles, the big boys and girls did the janitor work. They swept and dusted the school rooms and built the fires." (Guinn, J.M., Beginnings of the School System of Los Angeles., Hist. Soc. So. Cal, Vol. 8, p. 205)

There was some feeble attempt at hiring a janitor according to an account that appeared in the local paper. A patron of the school directed the following complaint to the paper which was answered by the editor.

The patron said, "Judging from the amount of mud that was on the floor, it had not been swept in a month."

The editor stated in his reply, "That the Council had refused to sign the janitor's bill; adding that in his opinion the council had acted wisely. If the teacher really wished the schoolroom to be clean, he should have appointed a pupil to swing a broom each day, or at least, each week, and otherwise perform the necessary duties on behalf of the health of the school." (Newmark, H. Sixty Years in Southern California, p. 263)

Financial Troubles- 1860-1870

Schools Face Criticism

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The decade between 1860-1970 was a period of unrest and uncertainty. There was the Civil War which was followed by depression and panic. There were devastating floods, especially in the years 1862 and 1868. There was drought, particularly the long remembered one of 1864. Many rancho owners lost their land. Cattle died by the thousands; many of them were driven over the cliffs at San Pedro.

During this period, on account of local bitterness which grew out of the Civil War, the public schools of the state and of Los Angeles became the target for considerable criticism.

"The Los Angeles News of July 17, 1866, commenting on public school system of California says: 'In New England the public schools educated the people about Negro equality and the same object is sought to be accomplished in this state; and unless parents and guardians take matters promptly in hand their children will be educated up to the New England standard of social ideas and infidelity.' The editor of the News charges the State Board with 'making regulations for the government of the public schools and introducing therein a series of books that make these institutions but little more than schools for the dissemination of the doctrines of abolitionism.' Whittier's poems were among the books." (Guinn, J.M. Historical and Biographical Record of Los Angeles and Vicinity, p.119)

According to an excerpt from the Los Angeles News dated June 9, 1864 criticisms were directed toward local teachers. Evidently, it was thought that the teachers were left too much to their own devices and that they were not being adequately supervised.

School for Girls-

School for Boys-

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"The schools should not be left to take care of themselves after teachers have been selected to draw from the public school fund one hundred dollars or more a month. The schools taught by the three lady teachers seem to be well attended, the average attendance in the grammar schools being ninety-five and are prosperous.

Of the grammar school for boys we know little inside the curtain and can only judge that there is a screw loose somewhere by what we see and hear. There is a general disposition to retain the larger boys at home and send them to a private school or to let them run the streets. It is not wholly the task of a teacher to arraign the pupils before the Board, the latter sitting as a position of an audience for examination, but to turn them over for examination by the trustees in part at least. The frequent visitation of the schools by the latter, as well as by parents and guardians, will do more to break monotony and to advance the pupils than to treble the pay of teachers." (Bates, Elizabeth, A Study of the Development of Elementary Education in Los Angeles, p. 25)

The Oldest School Site - San Pedro Street School

The San Pedro Street School was the only one opened during the decade of 1860. It was a one-room brick building located on the same sit as the one that stands there today. This site is the oldest one still owned by the Los Angeles City School District.

The first enrollment record of the district, dated 1865-66, indicated three schools and six teachers with an enrollment of 244 pupils.

Election of School Officers

The First Registers

"Beginning in 1863, the Superintendent of Public Instruction was required, by law to furnish a register to each school. John Swett, state superintendent claimed that ' the new State School Register was so simple in its style of bookkeeping that the most careless teacher could hardly fail to keep a reliable record.' " (Bates, Elizabeth, A Study of the Development of Elementary Education in Los Angeles., p. 25)

The oldest one, that is still in existence, is for the San Pedro Street School, dated 1865. The early registers were quite similar to the ones that are used today. The names of children were recorded, sometimes only the first one appeared, and the street on which each one lived. Evidently there were double sessions then, as well as now, for the month's roll was headed by "morning session" and "afternoon session." Promotions were indicated in the "general record." Holidays were granted on September 16, Mexican Independence Day; on Washington's birthday; and on the first of May, school was closed and all went off on a picnic (Bates, Elizabeth, Study of the Development of Elementary Education in Los Angeles City, p.30)

Absence was due, according to the register, to illness and on many occasions to rain. Such comments as the following appear in the register: measles, croup, diphtheria, and small pox; "Rain-mud-no school; Rain-Rain-Rain-Rain in perfect torrents; heavy rains, holiday; Rain-rain-rain, large drops and many in number." There was a page with the caption, "Corporal Punishment." The law required that a record be kept of such punishment. It was administered for such offenses as "fight, truancy, laziness, teasing, whispering, whittling, drawing, and occasionally for inattention." (Ibid, pp. 31-32)

The State Provides for a City Board of Education

1870-72 marked the beginning of the extraordinary growth that was destined to take place in Los Angeles. By the end of the decade its population had increased to 11,185 and the school records show an enrollment of 1754 pupils and twenty-eight teachers.

In 1872, the state legislature created a city Board of Education consisting of five members who had the power to appoint a superintendent.

The First High School in Los Angeles-1873

The information about the first high school in Los Angeles, the course of study, and the graduating exercises are taken from the annual report (Annual Reports of the Board of Education, 1884-89) of L.D. Smith, one of the early city superintendents.

The first high school was established in 1873. Its first principal was Dr. W.T. Lucky who was, at the same time, City Superintendent. It was housed in four rooms at the Central School building.

In 1882 due to pressure upon the department for room, the high school was removed to occupy rooms in the Normal School building.

The course of study was adapted to meet the requirements of the State University and made sure that students would be ready for their freshmen year. It was, at the same time, practical and flexible, consisting of three courses of study from which pupils were allowed to choose upon entering high school.

The Graduation Exercises of 1884

The graduation exercise of the class of 1884 were held on June 30 in Child's Opera House. To defray expenses a small fee was charged for admission to the lower part of the house which was filled to over-flowing, the receipts being about $200.The following is a sample of the program:

The course of study in the high school; the English course, the Latin course, the Classical course may be found in the Report of the Board of Education, pp. 46-47 (1884-89)

A Brief Summary

During the Mexican regime, the schools were controlled by the ayuntamiento. It employed and dismissed teachers and attended to the supervision of the schools.

When the Americans took over, three of the first trustees (after 1850) were Manuel Requena, Francis Millus, and W. T. B. Stanford. These men were three of the seven council members, who were appointed by that group. The Town Council elected Stephen C. Foster for superintendent of the schools. The duties of the early superintendents were to examine applicants for teaching; grant certificates of approbation (official approval) to such who were well qualified morally and intellectually to teach; revoke certificates for cause; visit schools monthly making such suggestions for the improvement and welfare of the schools as he may think proper; and hold examinations once a year.

Mr. M.C. Bettinger, one time board member of the Los Angeles City Schools, compared the size of the office staff and means of paying teacher salaries in the years 1885 and 1910. In the first year mentioned, there was one member on staff, the superintendent. In 1910, there were 25, a gain of 24 people in 25 years. In 1885 the payment of salaries was very simple. At the end of the school month, the pupils were dismissed at noon on Friday and all the teachers gathered for a General Teachers' Meeting. At the close of the meeting, each teacher was handed a little paper sack that contained their salary for the month. In 1910 a timesheet was sent in by the principal of each building to an auditor on Friday, the end of the school month. The Auditor worked on the time reports and sent warrants to the County Superintendent of Schools, which were then taken to the County Auditor for his approval and afterwards to the County Treasurer for cash.(Bettinger, M.C., Twenty-five Years in the Schools of Los Angeles . Hist. Soc. So. Cal, Vol. 8, 1909-1911 p. 67.)

There is little wonder that the Los Angeles Public School System, had a slow beginning. One of the many reasons was that "not one of the original settlers of the town could read and write. They were an easy-going 'poco tiempo' sort of people, content to labor and wait; particularly wait." (Guinn, J.M., The Beginnings of the School System of Los Angeles, Hist. Soc. of So. Cal, Vol. 8, p.195)