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Subject: Sacramento, California USENET FAQ Part 5 of 6
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           The Sacramento, California USENET FAQ Part 5 of 6
        Frequently Asked Questions about Sacramento, California
                       (c) Copyright 1995 & 1996

                                   by

                         David F. Prenatt, Jr.
                          Internet Esquire(sm)
                             P.O. Box 74632
                          Davis, CA 95617-5632

                <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq/ >

                   <mailto:[e-mail] >


The Sacramento, California USENET FAQ (Sacramento USENET FAQ) may be
comprised of more than one part.  If it is, please see the TABLE OF
CONTENTS in Part One for a complete list of the questions that I have
attempted to answer and for other important legal information.  Caveat
emptor:  I assume no obligation for anyone through the publication of the
Sacramento USENET FAQ.  Furthermore, all versions of the Sacramento USENET
FAQ are my personal property and are protected by applicable copyright
laws.  All rights are reserved except as follows:  I hereby give my
permission to anyone who has access to this version of the Sacramento
USENET FAQ to reproduce the information contained herein for non-profit
purposes, provided that proper credit is given to me as the author of this
FAQ and that I am notified of any use other than personal use.  Permission
to reproduce any version of this FAQ may be revoked by me at any time.

- - - - -
               The Sacramento, California USENET FAQ Part 5 of 6
            Frequently Asked Questions about Sacramento, California
               (c) Copyright 1995 & 1996 by David F. Prenatt, Jr.


6)  EDUCATION IN SACRAMENTO.

     Education in Sacramento is comprised of both public and private
     schools for children and a large number of trade schools, junior
     colleges, and private and public colleges and universities for adults.

6.1)  EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IN SACRAMENTO.

     California has compulsory education for minors.  However, public
     education for children in California is nothing less than a disgrace.
     The public school system is the default option for complying with
     California's compulsory education laws.  And while some public schools
     are better than others, the public school system in California taken
     as a whole is little more than mediocre child care service.
     Sacramento's Public School System is consistently ranked among the
     worst.
          Those hit hardest by the deficiencies of the public school system
     are those who cannot afford private schools.  Tuition voucher systems
     have been proposed as a free-market solution in recent years, but
     voucher systems have encountered very well-organized opposition from
     educational leaders.  While many of the proposals for voucher systems
     are fatally flawed, the criticisms of these proposals are just as
     often based on irrelevant or incorrect information.

6.1.1)  Sacramento Public Schools. [Rev]

     For general information about Sacramento public schools, contact the
     Sacramento City Unified School District at [phone].  To find out
     which public school serves your residence, call [phone].
     Readers with a web browser may visit the following Sacramento area
     school districts on the World Wide Web:

          * Elk Grove Unified School District
           <http://egusd.k12.ca.us/ >

          * Grant Unified School District

           Grant High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/grant.html >

           Highlands High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/hh.html >

           Don Julio Junior High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/dj.html >

           Foothill Farms Junior High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/ff.html >

           Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/mlk.html >

           Pacific High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/pacific.html >

           Rio Linda High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/rl.html >

           Rio Terra Junior High School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/rt.html >

           St. Joseph's School
           <http://www.quiknet.com/grant/st.html >

          * San Juan Unified School District
           <http://www.sanjuan.edu/ >


6.1.2)  Private Schools for Children in Sacramento. [Rev]

     One of the best ways to find an affordable private school is through a
     religious organization to which you belong.  Many secular private
     schools also offer scholarship funding and financial aid.  In any
     event, virtually all private schools require children's parents to
     enter into a contract.  Readers with a web browser may visit the
     following private schools on the World Wide Web:

          * Jesuit High School
           <http://www.jesuit.room.net/ >

          * [Miscellaneous listings pending]

6.2)  EDUCATION FOR ADULTS IN SACRAMENTO.

6.2.1)  CONTINUING EDUCATION.

     [This section is currently under construction.]

6.2.2)  TRADE SCHOOLS.

     From what I have seen of private trade schools, most of them exploit
     industrious people who don't have marketable job skills (WITH SOME
     VERY NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS).  The most successful tradespeople whom I
     know have received their training on the job and simply worked their
     way up from entry level positions.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE HIGH QUALITY
     OF INSTRUCTION AT SOME PRIVATE TRADE SCHOOLS, the tuition that most
     pupils pay might be better spent elsewhere; junior colleges and adult
     schools offer many useful courses that provide technical training
     and/or college credit for work experience/internships.

6.2.3)  JUNIOR COLLEGES (JCs). [Rev]

     Junior colleges (JCs) are the most diverse and useful institutions in
     higher education, IMHO.  Entrance requirements allow virtually any
     high school graduate or anyone else over the age of 18 to attend.  But
     once someone is admitted, course prerequisites and placement exams at
     JCs distinguish many levels of scholastic aptitude and accomplishment.
          JCs serve many purposes.  For many professionals, JCs are fora
     for continuing education; for others, JCs are places where they can
     obtain marketable job skills.  But the primary purpose for which JCs
     were designed was as transitionary institutions for those who
     eventually wanted to attend a four year university.  Regardless of
     your educational goals, a JC is the best place to start looking for
     educational resources.  There are three JCs in Sacramento's Los Rios
     Community College District (<gopher://gopher.losrios.cc.ca.us:70/ >):

          *    American River College [phone]
               (<http://www.arc.losrios.cc.ca.us/ >)
               4700 College Oak Dr
               Sacramento, CA 95841

          *    Sacramento City College [phone]
               (<http://www.scc.losrios.cc.ca.us/ >)
               3835 Freport Blvd
               Sacramento, CA 95822

          *    Cosumnes River College [phone]
               (<http://wserver.crc.losrios.cc.ca.us/ >)
               8041 Center Parkway
               Sacramento, CA 95823-5799

               Folsom Lake Center       El Dorado Center
               [phone]            [phone]
               100 Clarksville Rd       6699 Campus Dr
               Folsom, CA 95630         Placerville, CA 95667


6.2.4)  FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

6.2.4.1)  State Colleges and Universities. [Rev]

     While many fine four year colleges and universities maintain a
     presence in Sacramento, the University of California, Davis (U.C.
     Davis) about 20 miles west of downtown Sacramento is the regional
     mecca of higher education.  For more information on U.C. Davis, see
     the U.C. Davis USENET FAQ (see Section 1.5 for information on how to
     obtain the U.C. Davis USENET FAQ) or visit the U.C. Davis Home Page on
     the World Wide Web (<http://www.ucdavis.edu/ >).  The California State
     University, Sacramento (CSU Sacramento) provides an affordable local
     alternative to U.C. Davis.  For more information on CSU Sacramento,
     contact:

          California State University Sacramento
          [phone]
          6000 J St
          Sacramento, CA 95819
          World Wide Web Home Page: <http://www.csus.edu/ >


6.2.4.2)  Private Colleges and Universities.

     [This section is currently under construction.]

6.2.5)  PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS. [Rev]

     There are three law schools in Sacramento (not including my alma
     mater, U.C. Davis Law School, in the neighboring town of Davis):

          *    McGeorge School of Law (University of the Pacific)
               (<http://www.uop.edu/law/index.html >).
               -3200 5th Ave [phone]

          *    Lincoln Law School [phone]
               -3140 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816

          *    University of Northern California Lorenzo Patino School of
               Law & Paralegal School.

     McGeorge is the only one of these three law schools that is approved
     by the American Bar Association; Lincoln Law School is certified by
     the California State Bar.

7)  THE HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO.

     Readers with a web browser may visit the Sacramento Convention and
     Visitors Bureau's History of Sacramento Web Page on the World Wide Web
     (<http://www.pageweavers.com/sacvisitors.html >) or the City of
     Sacramento's History Web Page (<http://www.sacto.org/history.html >).

7.1)  The Aboriginal Inhabitants of Sacramento.

     As long ago as 40,000 years, the aboriginal inhabitants of California
     (known collectively as the "California Indians") first arrived in
     Sacramento.  The most recent aboriginal inhabitants of Sacramento were
     primarily the Patwin ("the people" in their native language).  Like
     most aboriginal Californians, the Patwin relied heavily upon oak tree
     acorns as their primary food supply, which they supplemented with
     fish.  The Patwin employed a basic monetary system that was recognized
     by their neighboring culture groups and helped prevent most conflicts
     over territories and resources.  This monetary system also formed the
     basis for an extensive trade network that stretched throughout
     California, notwithstanding the dearth of long distance travel and
     communication between different culture groups in aboriginal
     California.  For more information about California's earliest
     inhabitants, visit the State Indian Museum at 26th and K St (916)324-
     0971.

7.2)  Spanish and Mexican Occupation.

     While the Age of Exploration and subsequent historical developments
     took their toll upon all cultures in the New World, it had no special
     or noteworthy impact upon the aboriginal inhabitants of Sacramento.
     Early on, the Spanish Mission system came very close to Sacramento
     with the founding of San Francisco de Asis in 1776.  However, this
     mission and the missions neighboring it had little influence on the
     life of aboriginal California residents outside of the San Francisco
     Bay Area.  Fort Ross, founded in 1812 by the Russian-American Company
     in present day Sonoma County, had little impact either.  By the time
     San Francisco Solano was founded in 1823 the Mission System was no
     longer even a viable institution in California, being almost entirely
     replaced by California ranchos that resulted from Mexican land grants.
          John Augustus Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, received a Mexican land
     grant in 1839 where the Sacramento and American Rivers meet in the
     present day City of Sacramento, and established the colony of New
     Helvetia there in 1839.  He built a prosperous trading post populated
     by other Swiss immigrants that served the needs of American pioneers
     and local agriculture.  He also purchased Fort Ross from the Russian-
     American Company in 1841.  However, Sutter's thriving enterprise was
     destined to be ruined by the California Gold Rush.  Sutter's Fort,
     located at 27th and L Streets, has been restored.  Contact the docents
     at [phone] for information about self-guided tours.

7.3)  The Gold Rush.

     The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 (days after the signing
     of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican war)
     triggered a large westward migration to California that was centered
     in Sacramento, during which the 49ers overran, plundered, and
     destroyed Sutter's property.  Meanwhile, the aboriginal population of
     Sacramento disappeared virtually overnight, succumbing to the totally
     exotic forces of alcohol, disease, and hostile white emigrants.  In
     1849 the California Constitution was adopted, and in 1850 California
     became the 31st state (prompted in large part by the Gold Rush).
          The Gold Rush is arguably the most important event during the
     history of 19th Century America, rivaled only by the Civil War.  In
     fact, many would say that California's admission to the Union as a
     free state under the Compromise of 1850 (prompted by the Gold Rush)
     set into motion a series of events that culminated in the Civil War.
     And as far removed as the state was from the action, California helped
     finance a large part of the victorious Union forces.

7.4)  After the Gold Rush.

     After the Gold Rush, Sacramento remained a popular destination for
     American pioneers.  Sacramento was the end of the line in the West for
     the 1800 mile Pony Express and a prominent center of steamboat river
     transportation and seagoing vessels along the Sacramento River.  The
     Central Pacific Railroad began laying track in Sacramento in 1863 and
     met the Union Pacific in Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869.  Sacramento
     then became a major beneficiary of the resulting transcontinental rail
     line, controlling virtually all interstate commerce in California.

7.5)  The Twentieth Century.

     Sacramento's growth during the 20th Century is dwarfed by that of
     other California cities along the coast.  Even so, Sacramento is still
     the largest city in the Central Valley, and it also remains the
     confluent center of agricultural production and other industries in
     neighboring communities, especially after the completion of a
     deepwater channel to the San Francisco Bay in 1963.  Downsizing of the
     military in recent years, however, along with the imminent closure of
     McClellan Air Force Base, has left many people in the Sacramento area
     concerned about their future employment prospects.

8)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES
    FROM VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF SACRAMENTO.

     Many Northern California communities have their own regional USENET
     domains and Home Pages on the World Wide Web.  For more information on
     communities in Northern California with their own regional USENET
     domains, see Section 10.2.2.2.2.3.2.

8.1)  Lake Tahoe. [Rev]

     Lake Tahoe is about two hours east of Sacramento, and it is a favorite
     recreation spot for Sacramento residents, with gambling (Nevada side),
     winter skiing, and summer recreation.  For more information, readers
     with a web browser may visit the Lake Tahoe Home Page on the World
     Wide Web (<http://www.tahoe.com >)

8.2)  Modesto. [Rev]

     For information about the neighboring city of Modesto, readers with a
     web browser may visit the Modesto Home Page on the World Wide Web
     (<http://www.sonnet.com/modesto.index.html >

8.3)  Stockton. [Rev]

     For informaton about the neighboring city of Stockton, readers with a
     web browser may visit the Stockton Home Page on the World Wide Web
     (<http://www.stocktonet.com.html/ >

8.4)  Yosemite. [Rev]

     For information on the world famous Yosemite, located about two hours
     south of Sacramento, readers with a web browser may visit the Yosemite
     Home Page on the World Wide Web (<http://www.nps.gov/yose/ >).

9)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CALIFORNIA FROM VISITORS AND RESIDENTS
    OF SACRAMENTO.

     [This section is currently under construction.]

10)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS AND LIFE ON THE INTERNET
     FROM MEMBERS OF THE SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY.

10.1)  BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS.

     I have attempted to answer some basic questions about computers in
     this section.  However, the best place to get answers for your
     computer questions is from your own Internet service provider (ISP).

10.1.1)  Why should I use a computer?

     It is easier and faster to accomplish certain tasks by using a
     computer.

10.1.1.1)  Do I really need to use a computer?

     No.  You don't need to use a computer, but many tasks are impossible
     to accomplish without a computer.

10.1.1.2)  Isn't it difficult to learn how to use a computer?

     No.  Learning to use a computer is very easy, but this is a very well
     kept secret because many people who know how to use computers are very
     intimidating to people who do not know how to use them.

10.1.1.3)  How can I get the computer training that I need?

     Admit your ignorance, both to yourself and to the people who offer you
     help.  Teaching people how to use computers is extremely difficult,
     but it doesn't have to be that way.  Many people erroneously assume
     that they understand how computers work, and this makes teaching these
     people extremely difficult.  Of course, people who are technically
     proficient may not be able to communicate with you or they may not be
     interested in helping you.  Avoid these people.
          The Sacramento PC Users Group provides instruction and support
     for people learning to use PC computers.  For more information,
     readers with a web browser may visit the Sacramento PC Users Group
     Home Page on the World Wide Web (<http://www.sacpcug.org >).

10.1.1.4)  What practical uses would I have for a computer?

     Within the last ten years, the number of practical applications for
     personal computers has mushroomed to the point where anyone who is not
     computer literate is at a serious disadvantage in the competitive
     worlds of education and commerce.  Computer games were the original
     hook for most consumers, and word processing has since emerged as the
     most popular practical application for end users.  As useful as these
     applications are, however, they are little more than flotsam when
     compared with the phenomenal software vessels that sail the vast ocean
     of computer technology.  But don't take my word for it:  Stop by any
     store that sells computer software and do some window shopping.

10.1.2)  Do I need my own computer?

     No.  Computers are as ubiquitous as telephones.  The only reason you
     would want to own your own computer is for personal convenience, much
     like owning a cellular phone.

10.1.2.1)  What kind of a computer should I buy?

     You should buy a computer with the features that you want at a price
     you can afford.  If you are reading this FAQ for a recommendation,
     then you probably want a Macintosh(r) or an IBM/IBM Clone (PC).

10.1.2.1.1)  What is the difference between a Macintosh(r) and an IBM/IBM
             Clone (PC)?

     Macintosh(r) computers are much higher quality technology than IBM
     technology.  However, IBM is the standard for computer technology and
     is much more affordable than Macintosh(r).  Thus, if you are on a
     limited budget, you probably want an IBM/IBM clone, especially because
     whatever you do buy will be obsolete when you buy it.

10.1.2.1.2)  What is an IBM clone?

     IBM buys its technology on the open market and sets the standard for
     other computer companies (at least it used to do so).  Many companies
     build IBM clones (properly referred to as PCs) that meet or exceed
     IBM's standards (i.e., 100% IBM Compatible).

10.1.2.2)  What kind of features should I have on a computer?

     There is no easy answer to this question, but as a general rule buy
     only proven technology and avoid all the bells and whistles.  New
     technology is inherently unreliable because many bugs are found only
     after a product has been released.  Try out a variety of computers and
     find out for yourself what features are the most useful and reliable.

10.1.2.3)  What kind of accessories should I get on my computer?

     It depends upon what type of applications you are using.  If you are
     reading this FAQ for a recommendation, then you probably only need a
     modem and/or a printer.

- - - - -

End Document:

               The Sacramento, California USENET FAQ Part 5 of 6
            Frequently Asked Questions about Sacramento, California
                           (c) Copyright 1995 & 1996

                                       by

                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.
                              Internet Esquire(sm)
                                 P.O. Box 74632
                              Davis, CA 95617-5632

                     <http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq/ >

                        <mailto:[e-mail] >

Link to next document:

<http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~netesq/USENET-FAQs/sac/part6.html >

- - - - -