The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-28


Of this petition anon. b.
NO. H. aGE
To The Editors Of the Enquirer:
In your paper Of yesterday, some Of the
reasons set forth in a petition :praying for
the repeal OF important provisions in. our
School Law were commented upon. Oth-
ers will now be discussed. In vindication
of the old Independent district system, the
petition claims that the inhabitants of the
districts are as competent to select their
school house sites, and build their own
school houses, as individuals are to select
aud build their own farm houses. We
would ask are they as likely to do it?-
That is the important question, and not
their competency to do so. For an an
swer to this question, let the appeal be
made TO the history OF educational matters
in this State, for the past thirty years. Let
the present location and construction Of
nine-tenths Of the school houses in the
State be examined, and then we shall be
better qualified to appreciate the necessity
OF some change. some Improvement in re-
gard to this subject.
The TRUTHS the health--the physical as
well as the intellectual development ofthe
children in our schools, imperatively de-
mand great and immediate reform in the
matter Of school houses and their sites.-
The present unhealthy, unsuitable and un-
slightly location OF thousands Of school
houses throughout the country; the dilapi-
dated, repulsiue appearance of the build
ings; their contracted. size; their utter des-
titution Observation-Disclosures, suitable means
for warming and ventilation. and of sulfi.
cient space for Fairgrounds, furnish in.
structive lessons to us, and settle the qnes-
ton at once, whether the Township Boards,
as constituted by the new law. are needed
to secure the requisite reform. ~, :.
Again, the petition says: "Centraliza-
ton and monopoly can never harmonic
with free constitution and free people
IT is an old trick Of Kings and Emperors."
That is to say, because the new schoollaw
authorizes the electors OF the sub districts
TO choose three directors. those directors
to choose one Of their number clerk, aud
those clerks to constitute Township
Board OF Education. and the said Board
to purchase sites and erect commodious
SCHOOt uOuScS tuCtCOh iOt Tic CYuut oOCOui-
moda ofalt the children of the several
sub-districts, it is. forsooth. Capitalization
and monopoly. san old trick of Kings
and Emperors." Then are our General
Assembly and our Nation al Congress-, sys-
tens Of ..centralization and monopoly. and
an old trick of Kings and Emperors.''-
Away with such barbarous absurdiiies!
Again, the petition declares: "AVe see
no grantlin the Constitution to authorize
taxation for High Schools; neither do we
see justice in it. great part Of the rural
population cannot, if they would, partake
in them." 1t is much to be regretted that
the educationa al vision ofthe author OF this
petition is so bedimmed with the mists anti
clouds which once overhurg this subject,
that he cannot seeaihe glorious light which
now illumines the pathway Of the modern,
republican, educational reformer. mo
grant in the Constitution authorizing taxa
tion for High SchoolsP'
Let us see. The Constitution declares
I"The General Assembly shall make such
provisions by taxation, or otherwise, as,
with the income, arising from the School
trust fund, will secure a thorough and eff
cient system of Common Schools through
out the State" To settle the constitution
ality of this matter, then, it is only neces-
sary to establish the fact that gradation in
Common School System is indispensa-
ble to it's thoroughness and efficiency. On
this point authorities are abundant Il is
conceded by every experienced educator,
every intelligent, practical school man in
the country, that the beneficial reflex in
fuence of the High School upon the schools
below, is worth vastly more than it costs,
to say nothing of the benefit which accrues
to the pupils educated in it. II brings 10
bear upon the pupils in the schools below,
not only on those who reach. but also on
those who do not reach the High School,
the strongest motive that can possibly OPP
crate upon the youthful mind. viz: the hope
OF promotion. l ,saa sa s
Beside, one good model school in a
township would accomplish incalculable
benefits, by furnishing q suitable place for
the education of teachers. and by dissenn-
mating among the other schools correct
methods ofimparting instruction. But we
have not time now TO 60 into full discus.
sion of the advantages of "a graded system
of Common Schools. ss
In regard to the objection, that Sc. great
part Of the rural population cannot, ifthey
would, partake in them, namely, the high
schools, we have only to state, that the OBJ.
lection is so selfish, so anti, democratic, SO
anti -philanthropic, so much like the dog in
the manger, thatit is really not worth an
swering. This objection is in perfect ac-
cordance with the arthor's other marrow
views. Surely he must, for the past TWEEN.
! ty years, been following the footsteps Of his
|illustrious predecessor, Rip Van Wrinkle
The idea that good schools, orany 9th
er valuable Institutions, ought not 10 be es
Itablished, because, forsooih, all may moi
be able, owing to peculiar circumstances
i 10 share directly in their benefits, Is an Ut
lter absurdity. Il is tantamount 10 saying