The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-01-18

subject of frequent discussion. 1t has
been suggested by many that the Institu
ton should be removed into the country
and the present buildings and grounds
which are now almost in the heart Of the
city, eventually sold.
To this proposition the present and late
superintendentss have been strongly oppo.
sed. Their experience in the education
Of the Deaf and Dumb, gives great weight
to their opinions. especially, as some ol
them rest on educational grounds.
would submit to your consideration the
propriety and justice Of giving to the Board
of Trustees a suitable compensation for
their services. The labor which they are
required to perform, and the responsibility
imposed upon them, are too great to be
performed gratuitously
| There is class of persons, with equal
ly strong claims upon our sympa,hies, who
do not seem to be embraced within the
range or beneficial operations of these In.
stitutions. allude to the imbecile and
idiotic, of whom there is said to be large
number in the State
1diocy and insanity, until lately, were
confounded, so far at least as any efforts
were made for their amelioration and re.
lief. The proper distinctions are now OBJ.
served, and each class is found amenable
to different modes Of treatment.
| ldiocy is understood to consist ia an
impaired condition of the powers Of the
mind, and an entire want of the reasoning
faculties. Persons thus afflicted are not
responsible for their acts, and must neces.
sarily, therefore, become public or pri.
vate charge.
Possessing muscular force, some traces
OF memory, and the powers Of imitation,
they are capable Of being trained to per.
form many Of the necessary duties of life.
! Our Common Schools, from their uni
versal diffusion, located as they are in ev.
cry neighborhood, and distributing their
healthfnl influence to every family, should
always be regarded as among the very
first objects Of Legislative care. They
have not inaptly, at times. been styled
'the peoples colleges" and are certainly
the palladium and most effectual defence
of our free institutions.
The New Constitution makes il impcYa.
tive on the General Assembly, Ito make
such provisions by taxation, or otherwise,
as with the income arising from the School
Trust Fund, will secure thorough and eE
ficient system Of Common Schools through.
out the State"
In accordance with this requirement o
the Con stitution, the last General Assem-.
bly,. with almost entire unanimity, passed
a law re-conssructing our educational sys.
tem.-eleva,ing its standard. extending its
usefulness, and imparting to il a greater
degree Of efficiency.
1t is claimed by the friends Of the sys
tenn thus created, that the new features en-
grated upon it. are decided Improvements
in perfect accordance with the educa.
tional progress OF the age, and the educa.
tional demands Of our rapidly increasing
population.
In a Republic, like ours, founded as il
is on the virtue and intelligence OF the
people at large, the thorough and efficien,
education Of those who are soon to assume
the duties and responsibilities OF govern.
ment in all its departments, is essential to
the healthful existence Of the government
itself, and cannot be neglected without
danger to the vital interests OF our free in.
stilutions.
The new provisions Of the present School
Law, involving changes radical in theiI
character, must necessarily produce. for a
time. much embarrassment and inconveni.
ence, and in some instances it may be, &C.
tual oppression. But most Of these being
Of temporary nature, and incident to sl'
most every innovation upon long establish
ed usage. they should not impel the Gen.
eral Assembly to hasty and inoonsiderate
Legislation, ,,lest the present law may be, in
a short time, involved in the same com.
| plexity and confusion which, under the
former laws, produced so much embarass
ment
The annual assessment and levy ofiwc
mills upon the grand duplicate Of the State
for school purposes. is regarded by many
of the tax payers as oppressive and un.
necessary. This levy, however, is only
hslf mill greater than that authorized by
the former law.
Prior 10 the passage of the present law
the State levied half mill and County
Commissioners were required to levy .
mill, for school purposes; making tota
school tax Of one mill and half. Under
the new law, both levies have been unitet
into one. and styled State levy.
Another tax which has borne very heav
lily upon the tax payers the past year, il
the one authorized to be assessed by Town
ship Boards of Education for the purchas.
of school house sites, and the erection o
school houses. The amount that has been
raised for these objects is very nearly a.
large as that levied by the State. 1t is ,
tax that will not be required TO be repeated
however, in the next fifteen or twenty
/ years.
In the establishment Of all school sys
TENS three objects should be constantly
: kept in view.-brevity, simplicity, and tn.
} utmost degree of economy that is consis
tent with the proper education o! the you'll
, Of the State. To attain these excellencies
however, much time and experience ant
, careful observation OF the working Of tn,
system, ale necessarily required.
} The grand duplicate has been greatly
, increased by the re.valuation of the rea
, estate. A levy Of two mills, for the ensu
, ing year, would produce one-foarth NOR,