Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-06-22
From the Cincinnati Daily Gazette.
COMMON SCHOOLS,

ADDRESS OF THE SUPERINTEN>
DENT OF OHIO.
The subject of common school education
has become one of,he most popular themes
upon which citizen of Obie can address
his fellow citizens. Numerous petitions
have been annually before the legislature.
calling for improvements and extensions
Of the system. The want of full statis-
tical Information has been felt, and in part,
- remedy that defect, superintendent of
: common seools has been appointed, whose
duty it is, among other things, to collect
through the county auditors and school of.
ficers an accurate and complete re.
port in every school district in the state.
AS this report may form the basis Of fu-
ture legislation, its fulness and correctness
are therefore of the utmost importance.
This measure of the legislature has
been generally received with favor, and
though parties divide the people on al"
most all other subject, this, for the inn
provement Of common schools, is adopted
and approved by men of all sides; and all
ready the friends Of the schools, and Of
education generally, have predicted the
most favorable results.
1t should be distinctly understood, that
but little can be done without the co.ope-
ration of the county auditors and school
directors throughout the state, however
jealous and Industrious your superintead.
Ont may be.
Look for momen. at the suork 10 be done.
There are in the state 70 counties, con-
tanning 1860 townships, divided into more
than 5000 school districts, from each of
which report is required. The snper-
intendant could not visit in person more
than two districts day. and make the
proper examinations: If he could devote
all his time to this part Of his duty, he
would only visit onl about 600 a year,
but he has other duties Of hisp Office
that will occupy at least one~third, or
perhaps one-half of the time This re.
view shows that the personal labor Of the
superintendent will be inadequate to all
the information required.
Who then are 10 aid in The zvork?
The legislature, by the same law refer
red to, requires the superintendent 40 ad-
dress circulars TO the county auditors,
with the proper directions. in the month
ofMay. The county auditors are requir-
ed to address circulars 10 the school di-
rectors Of each district and it is made
the duty Of the school directors 10 furnish
the particular information in detail.
TO THE COUNTY AUDITORS
Gentlemen Il have prepared and sent
10 each of you my circular, containing
copy Of the law and a statement of what
is required; but for fear ofaccident, an
other copy will be forwarded to each of
you. aud also q copy Of the circular of
the county auditor 10 the school and town
ship officers as prepared by the auditor OF
this county. You can adopt this or any
other form you please, so as to effect the
object. You have also received blank
forms to facilitate your labors, and secure,
as far as possible, uniformity in your re-
turns.
Gcntlemen-The extended action un-
der this law must begin with you. AIRY
delay on your part will delay the whole.
The school officers must receive their in
structons from you, the circular already
in your possession will furnish all needful
directions TO you. Let me ertreat you 10
send out yonr circulars at least one to
every school district, and to every town
ship clerk in your respective counties i'm"
medately, as the law directs. Read 1t
for yourselves, and LET us all be governed
Oy the acquisitions Of the law under which
we are now called to act.
TO THE OFFICERS OF COMMON SCHOOLS
IN TIL STATE or OHIO.
GentlemcR-On you, after all, devolves
the greater part of the work. and the le-
gislature looks to you for an active and
effectual endeayor to furnish all the infor-
nation required. .-Your returns are to be
made 10 the county auditors, and by the
county auditors forwarded to the superin-
tendent, TO be laid before the legislature,
The. county auditors have copies ofthe
law and directions, on all the points on
which reports are required. You are,
therefore, referred to these officers for in>
formation, should they in any case fail to
comply with their duty in placing the
proper documents in your hands at an
early day.
You viii be particularly careful that
your annual report includes all the time
from The third Friday in October, 1886 to
the third Friday in October, 1887. being
the period Of the annual election Of boards
of school ofIicers.
There are in the state, say seventy'two
county auditors, and more than twenty
thousand school officers, including school