The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-09-20

that ask, but only for the institution ofalitde.
very simple, and not expensive, machinery firstly,
forfpding out exactly what is already done in ar
our school districts; and secondly and ldsly, for
melting those concerned, whenever that ispossi-
BILE. to the doing Of something better. 1t is not
anything Inconsistent wththe rights Of conscience,
or that intcrferes with parental privileges. that
propose want nothing which will violate the
minds just liberty, or that win trespass upon any
Of the rights Of flreemen. go
What do want, and all too, as ! tIiipk. that the
friends of Education ought now to ssk for, is
simply this'isg A fA43&f gElfel8Ho
J. A legislative provision that not dollar Of the
public moneys now annually distributed 10 the
school districts of this State, shall hereafter be
paid TO any district, until, tIrrough its proper
officers, it has made complete and reliable re-
turns, Of allthose facts, proceedings, andpartic-
ulars, pertaining to its public EDUCATION, which
can be Of any interest or importance to those
who seek statistics upon the subject;
q The appointment Of State. Superintendent or
Secretary Of Common Schools, whose duty it,
shall be, to receive these statsticalreturns and Ia
for the information Of phlantropic minds, TO diss
gest and publish them; and also by occasional
printed circulars, or other cheap mode OF pub,
Clication, to ocommuncste to the officers ofeach
school district, and TO the teachers of each CONS
mon school III the State, such Information, ad-
vice and suggestions, as, in his judgment will
best assist them in the discharge Of their duties.
Is there anything wrong in tlis?s Is there any
thing that solitary citizen can reasonably OBJ
ject to? ......,..,-, s,,+..-,,.-.,,,,.
The statistics desired would incline an account
Of the size OF the distrctthe number OF its chill
dren over 4 and under l6-the description Of It's
school house, and of thelot on which tstands+-s
the number Of months in the year during which
the school was open-tbe scholars in attendance
The studies pursued--the books used-the discip-
line and incentives resorted to.-the wages paid to
teachers, and the public moneys received. Isit
not desirable 10 know these things? And lfany
district should neglect to make the required returns,
would it notbe perfectly right for the State tore
tain its share ofthe public money? II benesos
lent private individual has money to give away,
does he not wisely prefer to give it to one whom
he knows, rather than to one of whose character
he is totally ignorant' So then it should bewith
the State. .ieaBrfu s1e4ycgB igG sus
That the Superintendent, whose appointment
is asked for could be OF vast service to the cause of
Education,is too obvious to be questioned. He
should-be man ofIarge mind and liberal Educa-
ton, giving upto his Office all histime and discharg-
ing its duties with his whole heart, Ofcourse, his
selection would be determined by motives far
above the impulses Of petty prejudice, or ofparty
strife. The light thathe could every where DIFF
fuse, and the stimulus he could give to parents and
teachers, would be Of incalculable, advantage
During the last fifty years, such has been the gen,
eral progress of the human mind and so rapidly
has it advanced the sphere of learning and the do
minion'of the arts and sciences, that he, who now
stands by the modes and instruments OF his fathers,
is wofully laggng in the race for the means of hap
piness In nothing has there been more gratify-
ing improvement than in the modes of Education;
andwhat $50 important as that our children
should enjoy the benefit The business Of the
State Superintendent would be to make those sug-
gestions and diifuse the information which would
most stcondnce to that end and the utility of hisla
bors cannot be doubted. Suppose, for example,
that he were to send circular to every school
district in the State, presenting one or more of the
best ana cheapest plans which have been devised,
for district schco house. Would it not tbe every
where gladly received, and is it otprobable that It
would greatly improve the character Of the school
houses subsequently erected' and, not only that,
but that it would also keep thousands of dollars in
the pockets oflhe people which, otherwise, would
be injudciously or unnecessarily expended! This
alone might Justify the institution of the office,
though not word be said of the thousand sugges-
tions which its incumbent could make, that would
prompt teachers to better performance of their
duties, and thus enabescholars more wisely to I'M
prove the golden hours they spend in school,
Surely, there is not one whom address, who
would not be glad to see such an officer appointed
.tl & vi THE TAX.a s .ia Gsay
Now comes the question, What will be the ex.
pense. and who will pay the tax, that must en-
sue upon the proposed action of the Legislature,
Strange as it may seem here is an opportunity for
the Legislature to confer great good upon the
people without one dollar of additional taxation.
According to a late report of the Auditor Of
State, there was appointed among the various
counties of Ohio, during the last year, for school
purposes the sum of $2s5 900 of public money;
and it appears that about this sum is thus appor-
toned every year.
have already estimated the number of school
districts in the State at s000. II these districts
we're of equal size, and the moneys from the State
treasury equally distributed, the share Of each dis
rict would be exactly 35 dollars and 81 ~ cents,
Is is here shown: at req t+G ? ip
y qaaati 600o) 2s5000 $50 i.4i1s aNa
2l000
s.sG srw aHs .,a ---27cisL5 Es5iTEq
n ..i7 -.f..,, . $4,000 500, . ,,,Aq, -.