Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-08-06
"But religion, morality and knowl:

good government and the, happIness OF
mankind, SCHOOLS AND THE MEANS
OF INSTRUCTION SHALL FOR
EVER BE ENCOURAGED BY LEG
ISLATIVE PROVISION, not inconsis-
tent with the rights of conscienee.Y s.s
: sa sae Legislative .aid. afs - sssaa
To effect the reform which the friends
of Education in Ohio so greatly desire,
the aid fthe Legislature is. absolutely
necessary; and some, no doubt, already
suppose that the, man. rwhoshas been
at the troubleto write these papers, has
in view vast and expensive scheme Of
Legislation. That, however, is not the
truth. It's not for the creation of any
huge monster. whose heads and horns
and tails shall, fright innocent citizens
fr ON their propriety . that ask, but only
for the institution of little. very simple,
and not expensive, machinery; firstly,
Cor finding out exactly what is already
done in all our school districts; and
secondly aud lastly, for melting those
concerned, whenever that is possible,
to the doing Of something better. Il is
not anything inconsistent With hs rights
Of conscience, or that lnterferes with pa
rental privileges, that | propose. ! want
nothing which will violate the minds
just liberty, or that will trespass upon
any OF the rights offreemen: 5,..1 j..
| What do want, and all too, as !
think, that the friends Of Education
ought now TO ask for, is simply this.
l. A legislative provision that not q dol
! lar Of the public moneys now annually
distributed to the School districts oil
! this State, shall hereafter be paid to
any district. until, through its proper
! officers, it has made complete and res
liable returns, Of all those facts, pro-
ceedings, and particulars. pertaining
to its public education, which can'be
of any interest or Importance to those
who seek statistics upon the subject
IL. The appointment of State Super>
intendent or Secretary Of Common
Schools, whose duty It shall be, to re-.
ceiye these statistical returns, and, for
the information Of philanthropic minds.
to digest and publish them; and also
by occasional printed circulars, or
other cheap mode Of publication, to
communicate to the officers Of each
school district, and to the teachers Of
each common school in the State,
such information, advice and sngges-
tions, as, in his judgment, will best
assist them in the discharge of their
duties. '
Is there anything wrong in this? Is
there anything that solitary citizen can
reasonably object TO-?
The statistics desired would include
an account Of the size of the district
the number Of Its children over A aud
| under l6--the description of it's school
house, and of the lot on which it stands
the number of months in the year dur
ing which the school was open-the
scholars in attendance the studies pur-
sued the books used--the discipline
and incentives resorted to-the wages
paid to teachers, and the public moneys
received. Is it not desirable to know
these things? And if any district should
neglect to make the required returns,
would it not be perfectly right for the
State to retain its share of the public
money? If benevolent private inai-
vldual has money to give away, does ne
not wisely prefer to give it to one ~hom
be knows. rather than to one OF whose
character be is totally ignorant? So
then it should be with. the State.aa
That the Superintendent, whose ap'
pointment is asked for, could be- Of yast
service TO the cause Of Education. is toe
obvious 10 be questioned. He should be
a man oflarge mind, giving up, to his Of
fee all his time and dlschargingEits duties
with his whole heart OF course, his
selection would be determined by mo
tives far above the impulses Of petty
prejudice, or ofparty strife. The ligh
that he could every where diffuse, ant
the stimulus he could give to. parents ane
teachers, would be Of incaiculable ad
vantage. During the last fifty years
such has been the general progress o
the human mind and so rapidly has il
advanced the sphere Of learning and tht
domain OF the arts and sciences, chat he
who now stands by the modes and in
|struments Of his fathers. is wofully lag.
ging IN the race for the means Of hap,
, pness. lnano.hing has there9besn /,
: more gratifying improvement than in tn.
r modes Of Education; and what is SO i'm
|poitant as that our children should en-
t 10y the benefit? The business Of th,
State Superintendent would be to max,
) those suggeslions and difTlse the infor
j nation which would most conduc, Il
t that end, and the utilitysof his labor
cannot be doubted Suppose, for sex
: ample. that he we're to send circular.t'
S every school district in the State, pre-
: sentiDg one or more Of the best an,
: cheapest plans which have been devised
: fur district school house Would y
g not be every where gladly received, an
/; is itnot probable that it would great
8 improve the character of the schoo
t houses subsequently erected! and. no
A lonIv fha at hJt that II would also ks.s,