The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-01-11

To bring sbSat this result. howsser. ciassih-
:ation of offences bounded upon the age of those by
whom they are committed. should be recognized
,y law, and an institution organized with facilities
or teaching the juvenile offender the various pur
suits aad duties of life. together with the element
sry branches of a common education. INSTITUTE 'Ds
ofthis character have been established in several of
our sister States, and in every instance have pro
duced the most saIutary results.
The reports of the Trustees AMI of the several
furnish full information OF the
condition and wants of the Benevolent institutions.
The repairs and improvements at the Lunatic
Asylum which were authorized by appropriations,
at the last Session of the General Assembly, are
nearly completed, and promise to add greatly to
the comfort of the patients, and in tho end, dimin
ish the expenses of the lns,itu:ion. ssa
The great increase Of pupils in the Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb. requires that additional
room should be provided for them. -
A personal examination of that Institution has
satisfied me. that the time has arrived for the
erection of new building, with adequate room and
suitable accommodations.
The site of new edifce has been subjsc. of
frequent discussion. 1t has been suggested by
many that the Iosttntion should be removed into
the country, and the present buildings and groun6s
which are now almost in the heart of The city,
eventually sold. .lfzs=y~ zsi
To this proposition the present and late superin-
tendents, hive been strongly opposed. Their ex
perience in tho education of the Deaf and Dumb.
gives great weight to their opinions. especially, as
some of them rest on educational grounds
/ would submit to your consideration the pro-
priety and justice of giving to the Board of Trus
tees a suitable compensation for their services.
The labor which they are required to perform. and
the responsibility imposed upon them, too
great to be performed gratuiiousIy.
There is class of persons. with equally strong
claims upon our sympaihies, who do not seem to
be embraced within the range or beneficial opera
tons of these Institutions. Iallude tothe imbecls
and idiotic, of whom there is said to be large
number in the State.
Idocy and insanity, until lately, were eonfound-
ed, SO far at least as any efforts were made for
their amelioration and relief. The proper distnc-
tons are now observed, and each class is found
smenable to different modes oftreatment.
Idiocy is understood to consist in an impaired
condition of the powers of the mind. and an entire
want of the reasoning faculties. Persons thus
afflicted not responsible for their acts, and must
necessarily, therefore, become pubic or private
charge.
Possessing muscular force, some traces of menu
ory, and the powers of imitation, they are capable
of being trained to perform many of the necessary
duties Of life.
Our Common Schools, from their. universal
diffusion, located they n every neighborhoud,
and distributing their healthful infusuce to every
family. should always be regarded as among tho
very FIRST objects of Legislative care. They have
not inaptly, at times, been styled "the peoples
colleges" and are certainly the palladium and most
effectnai defence of our free institutions
The Now Constitution makes it imperative on
the General Assembly, ito make such provisions
| by taxation, or otherwise, as with tho income
arising from the School Trust Fund, will securs a
thorough and efficient system Of Common Schools
throughout the State."
In accordance with this requirement. of the Con-
stitusion, the last General Assembly, with almost
entire unanimity, passed law re-construct,ng our
educational system,-eevating its standard, ex-
/ tcuaiuS nuu 10 RT6dL6r
degree of efficiency.
/ 1t is claimed by the friends of the system thus
created, that the new features engrafied upon it,
are decided improvements sin perfect accordance
with the educational progress of the age. and the
educational demands of our rapidly increasing pop
| ulatioD.
In Republic, like ours founded as it is on tho
virtue and intelligence Of the people at large, the
thorough and efficient education of those who are
soon to assume the duties and responsibilities OF
government in all its departments, isesssntal to
the heathful existence of the government itself,
aud cannot be neglecied without danger to the
vital interests of our free institutions.
| The new provisions of the present School Law
involving changes radical in their character, mus
necessarily produce, for a time, much embarrass,
ment and nconyenience, and in some instances il
may be- actual oppression. But most of these
j being of temporary nature, and incident to almost
every innovation upon long established usage, they
should not irnpel the General Assembly to hasty
and inconsiderato legislation. lest the present law
may be, in short time, involved 10 the same COM
pexity and confusion which, under the former
laws. produced SO much embarrassment.
/ The annual assessment and levy of two mills
upon the grand duplicate Of the State for schoo
purposes, is regarded by many of the tax payers
as oppressive and unnecessary. This levy, how.
ever, is only half mill greater than that authori
zed by the former law.
Prior to the psssage of the present law, the
State levied half mill and County Commission
ers were required to levy mill, for school purpo
ses; making total school tax of one mill and
half. Under the new law, both levies have beer
united into one, and styled State levy.
Another tax which has borne very heavily upol
the tax payers the past yeer, is the one authorized
to be assessed by Township Boards of Education
for the purchase of school house sites, and tn,
erection of school houses. The amount that ha
been raised for these objects is very nearly as arg,
as that levied by the State. 1t is tax that will
not be required to be repeated, however, in tn,
next fifteen or twenty years.
In the establishment of all school systems thre.
nbiects sIond be oon era t a,t IN via,.y