TABLE 14.-Enrollment by grades in the public schools, 1892-1933-Continued 1 Post graduate. 2 III IV V VI VII VIII IX 22, 795 23,652 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CHAPTER IX School Revenues During Statehood 1. Sources of School Revenues The development of legislation relating to school revenues during territorial days has been discussed in chapter 7 and will not be repeated here. In that period the foundations were laid for the subsequent plans made possible only with the advent of statehood. In this chapter a rather full account is given of the various financial problems in public-school education and the legal enactments providing their solution. The various stages show a consistent attitude of belief in education as a fundamental necessity of an enlightened government. The State permanent school fund.-By the Enabling Act of Febru ary 22, 1889, Washington came into possession of the Federal-granted lands, but Congress very wisely stipulated that the lands thus granted for educational purposes could not be sold for less than $10 per acre, and that the proceeds should constitute a permanent school fund; the interest from this should be spent only in support of the schools. In addition, the schools received 5 percent of the proceeds from the sale of public land lying within the State sold by the United States Government. This was the nucleus around which was built the permanent school fund of the State. The legislature added other sources to the fund, and declared, "The principal of the State school fund shall remain irreducible and permanent. " The term "State school fund" was changed to "common school fund" in 1897. This law provided that the State school fund should be derived from the following sources: 1. Appropriations and donations by the State. 2. Donations and bequests by individuals to the State. 3. Donations and bequests to the common schools. 4. The proceeds of land and other property which revert to the State by escheat and forfeiture. 1 Laws of Washington, 1889-90, ch. XII, sec. 50, p. 373. |