Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-02-12
NUMBER 3.
G0urational Department.
THE SCHOOL BILL.


This Bill has passed the Senate by q vote
of 22 to 2. We have not seen a copy Of it as
passed, but understand it substantially as re-
ported by the Committee. The mair sug-
gesiions Of the Ohio Teachers Association are
embodied in the Bill and, perhaps on the
whole, It is the best Common School law in
existence. The House, we trust, will also
pass it without mutilation. The Forest Ciiy
has gathered the main featues of the Bill from
the speech of Senator RICE, as follows:
"An important feature in the bill is the pro-
vision by which libraries, and Webster's Una.
bridged Dictionary are to be furnished TO ev-
cry school district in the State, as soon as the
tax for that purpose will admit
The bill recognized, simplifes, and renders
far more efficient, the whole school system Of
the State. 1t provides that each township
shall be regarded as one district and be con
lided to II township board of education, for
general purposes, connected with the educa-
tional interests of the township, the Board to
be composed Of certain local directors, rota-
ton. The present school districts are recog-
nized as sub districts, in which the local direc-
tors are to be elected, and to whom are conf
ded the affairs Of the sub districts, with sun
dry limitations. The Township Board is in-
vested with full power TO establish such num-
Der of graded, central or high school in the
township, as the public interest may seem TO
require. II is also made the duty Of the Board
to estimate annually, and certify to the Audi
tor of the proper county the entire amour. Of
money necessary to sustain the schools in the
township for seven months, and for other
school purposes. which is to be levied upon
the taxable property of the township. equally
except in certain cases, and be collected by
the county treasurer as other taxes.
The Board has also power to change the
boundaries of sub districts as may best pro-
mote the interests of the schools, and to assign
to each sub-diStrict not less than sixty i've
scholars, except when reduction Of that mum
Der becomes Indispensable.
AS provided in this bill, the county Board
of school examiners are to be appointed by
the Probate Judge, and paid for their services
from the county treasury; and therefore are
not allowed to receive fee from the applican;
for granting a certificate. This arrangement
it is believed. will secure faithful exanina
tons, and remove all inducement to grant
certificates to disqualified persons.
Another leading feature OF the bill, and
one which educat:cnists regard as vital i'm
portance, is a provision for the State Com.
missioner Of common schools, to be elected BY
the people.
MIR. Rice closed his able speech in the fol
lowing truthful and eloquent language:
1T is certainly much easier, as well as mucl
wiser, to educate than to punish How much
of crime would be prevented, if higher or
der Of education were generally difused &
mong all classes. A well educated and en-
lightenod people will have but little occasion
for criminal courts, jails, and penitenliaries
The educated man has ordinarily too mucl
regard for moral principle, and the value Of
; good character to stoop to crime. In short
sir the perpetuty Of the government and sc
curity OF the citizen. and Of property, depen,
: upon the virtue and intelligence Of the people
BY the provisions of this bill, it is intende,
to make our common schools what they ough
to be-the colleges of the people-"chea
enough for the poorest. and good enough 70
the richest" With but slight increase {
p taxation, schools of different grades can be es
!, tablished and maintained in every townshi
I in the State, and the sons and daughters
4 our farmers and mechanics have an oppor.u
nifty of acquiring finished education, equal
S with the more favored of our land And i
D this wav, the elements of mind, now slumbel
ing among the aneducated masses, Ike .h
fine uuwrought marble in the quarry, will b
I arous ed and brought out to challenge the az
miration of the world"