Texas Almanac, 1943-1944 Page: 261
[338] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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TEXAS ALMANAC.-1943-1914.
A
ofTexas pioneers believed with Lamar in the essentialness of education to the p;eservation
of democratic government. The crumbling walls of one of their early colleges can still be
seen near the Belton-Georgetown highway at the historic village of Salado.
Education in Texas--Public School System.There were 1.022 independent and 5,170
common school districts in Texas during the
school year, 1941-42. Control of the public
school system of Texas is primarily by the
boards of trustees of these districts. The
State Department of Education, of which the
State Superintendent of Public Instruction is
the executive head, has general supervision
over the state school system and the formula-
tion of the state's educational policies. The
superintendent is elected by popular vote for a
two-year term. The State Board of Education.
appointed by the Governor and consisting of
twelve members, has supervision over the
adoption of textbooks and other administra-
tive functions. Like most other departments
of the Texas State Government, the educa-
tional system is not well integrated, but is the
result of an accumulation of constitutional and
statutory provisions that have been adopted
from time to time to meet current needs with-
out great regard for the unity of the entire
school system.
Beginnings of Educational Effort.
Aside from the early missions at Nacog-
doches. San Augustine, San Antonio and
Goliad. established for the instruction and
Christianizing of the Indians, the first step in
the direction of founding an educational sys-
tem in Texas is revealed in the Constitution
of the State of Coahuila-Texas, adopted in
1827, providing for the establishment of ele-
mentary schools and seminaries in the prin-
cipal towns of the state. The Congress of
Coahuila-Texas took action under this consti-
"utional provision in 1829. providing a plan
for free instruction for pupils whose parents
were unable to pay tuition. Again, in 1830
provision was made specifically for the found-
ing of six primary schools.
However, little or nothing was accom-
plished, and at the convention of American
colonists, which met at San Felipe in 1832.
the government was petitioned for a grant of
land to be utilized in the creation of a school
fund. Still nothing was effected and a fewprivate schools served the educational needs
of Texas at the time of the Revolution.
The Texas Declaration of Independence
stated that Mexico had "failed to establish
any public system of education." and the
Constitution of the Republic of Texas con-
tained provisions for such a system.
Mirabeau B. Lamar.
Several schools were incorporated by Con-
gress during the Houston administration, and
in one or two instances land grants were
made, but it remained for President Mirabeau
B. Lamar to take the first direct action look-
ing to the establishment of public schools. In
his message to the Texas Congress. 1883, he
strongly urged the setting aside of large por-
tions of the public domain to be used for the
development of a public school system and a
university. In compliance with this sugges-
tion. Congress in 1889 appropriated from the
public domain three leagues of land to each
county to be used in establishing public
schools, and, in addition, set aside fifty
leagues for a university. The following year,
an addItional league was added to each coun-
ty's allotment.
The Constitution of 1845. upon annexation
of Texas to the union, provided for the estab-
lishment of free schools and further instructed
that it should be the duty of the Legislature
to set apart not less than one tenth of the
annual revenue of the state derivable from
taxation as a perpetual fund for the support
of free schools.
Pease Lays Foundation.
Notwithstanding Texas had existed under
three national and two state constitutions
from 1824 to 1854, all of which provided for
systems of public instruction, it may be said
that the actual foundation of the present pub-
lie school system was not laid until the latter
year. Gov. E. M. Pease. with President La-
mar the most ardent pioneer supporter of
public education, succeeded in having $2.000,-
000 of the $10,000.000 received by Texas for
sale of lands to the United States set aside
as a school fund. It was in this year. too,
that in making grants of land for the en->'4
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Texas Almanac, 1943-1944, book, 1943; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117165/m1/263/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.