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From: Internet Esquire <[email protected]>
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Newsgroups: sac.general,news.answers
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:[email protected] >

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 (916)264-4300. To find out
which public school serves your residence, call (916)433-5180.
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 (916)484-8011
(<http://www.arc.losrios.cc.ca.us/ >)
4700 College Oak Dr
Sacramento, CA 95841

* Sacramento City College (916)558-2111
(<http://www.scc.losrios.cc.ca.us/ >)
3835 Freport Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95822

* Cosumnes River College (916)688-7457
(<http://wserver.crc.losrios.cc.ca.us/ >)
8041 Center Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95823-5799

Folsom Lake Center El Dorado Center
(916)983-5566 (916)988-2317
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
(916)278-6011
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 (916)739-7191

* Lincoln Law School (916)446-1275
-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 (916)445-4422 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:[email protected] >

Link to next document:

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

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