The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-03-07
PUTNAM COUNTY.

The returns made To me, 10 state the
number Of schnol houses. built in the
couniy--,he number or cosiof school
houses bnTlt this year, or the amount Of
building funds raised in the county. The
officers from whom these returns are re.
quired, are not paid for making them,
and neglect is The consequence.
While the Legislature is preparing 10
waste several thousand dollars annually
Of school moneys, To sustain cumber-
some Board Of Education, (whero sin.
gle competent Superintendent, entirely
devoted 10 the subject, would be decided
I y more rfficieh',) M provision is made
TO pay these officers, upon whose fidelity
The whole working oftte system depends.
II is not asked of men 0f large intel.
iligence aud ability, To labor graiui,ously
for the benefit OF our Common School
system. lf.heir labor is demanded, ade.
qdate rewards are paid Tor ii; and1 am
ut loss To explain or undeIs,and VIII,
more Independence of pecnaiary con-
sidcraiions islooked for in the township
and the district officers, than in others
The officers Of school director. distric'
clerk and treasurer and township clerk.
do no, invariably pass into the hands OF
those persons most interested in the suc-
cess Of Common Schools. Very fre-
quenlly il happens Iha, those who are
required TO act in these capacities, have
no children TO send 10 school, YET ars ihe
only persons qualified 10 do the duly re-
qured of them we'll. That 90 many OF
these officers faithfully devote several
days every year 40 The interests Of ed'ica
ion without reward, Other inan sa,isfac-
lion at the necessary performance OF al
important duty, speaks well for our peo.
pie; but il is no credi, 10 the inip-ov.
dence Of or Legislature. which has
made the effecInal carrying our Of our
system Of education depend upon the
charity and brnevolence of go large a
body Of officers. II may b. said that
This is liule m1tier; but our Legislators
have reasoned differently in relation to
lheii own services; and il should not be
lost sight o., that the small matters o!
eac, school dis:ric, in the State, il no,
we'll attended To, swell into a large ag-
gregate of neglect and injury 10 educA-
ton. While very many school officers
faithfully perform their duty. very man,
others do not; and my experience satisfies
,ne, that this evil extends over the State.
aud is no, merely local, but general
P, nal'ies will not remedy the evil. Where
no reward is given ior service, the bet
ter sense of the public will preven, the
enforcement ofpenalties, or enforce tn, IN
SO Reluctantly .ha, they will prove utter
ly inefficient.
The new law, requiring additional
qualifications in the teachers OF Common
Schools. has, thus far, worked severely
upon educational progress here. 1t has
driven offa number Of the teachers who
have neglected TO qualify themselves in
accordance with the requirements Of the
law, aud has not thus far generally sup
plled their place with teachers Of equal
experience. This but temporary evil,
owever, which Will decrease every
yea', while the etftc, Of the law will
ultimately be 10 p ovide better .eachers,
and a habit Of paying better wages.
The average of teachers here is very far
behind what it should be, even To meet
the wants Of new country. But the
capacities Of the teachers aud the rates
of wages paid, keep about an even pace.
and SO long as parents estimate education
and the mental improvement Of their
children, as well provided a, the che ,pesl
possible iaiea, a supply of capable teach
e,s cannot be hoped for. ], 10 sllange
that the good sense Of our people, which
leads them generally to such accurate
conclusions, should be wanting in this par.
'iculsr. They do no, appreciate tina ,
time and money is. absolutely worse then
wasted upon a teacher who does nol
understand his profession that one had
teacher, in a single winter, often perm It's
the growth Of errors In the habits Of
learning aud conduct Of his pupils, which
many after years OF careful training IN
the pari Of competent teacher, will bp
utterly unsuccessful in eradica,iDg, 1,
this, as in all other matters, Cost aud
value hold an intimate relation. rBu'
directors, unpaid for their services, take
little pains to sslec, good leachcrs---ihe
easiest procured, as well as the cheapesl,
is often the one selected.
There is no adequate system Of reg
ulatiug bucks ~ scbopls. Uniformity for
the purposes Of classification, is "a very
material aid 10 the teachers, aud the pro-
gress Of the scholars. But alnos, every
teacher has his preference Of schopI
books, with which, So far as parents are
desirous Of the success Of their children
they are very ready 10 comply. Aud
the consequences are, perniclous variety,
and largely useless expenditure. II should
in my Judgment, be- made the duty ul
County School Examiners, 10 recommend
series ot educational books in some
public manner, at stated times. / cal,
conceivc of serious objections 20 makjnp