True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-01-16

ernmen. ncless than parentaIobligallon.
and The IAwof March u. 1858. not only
furnished ample provision for schools Of
every grade. bht will be memorable in
our annals for establishing the principle
that they are open to all Free or Com
mon Schools. ID the fullest sense Of the
term. Instead Of mixed State and
County tax Of mill and a-half for their
support, the act 10 question directed a
State School tax, and that its proceeds be
distributed from the State Treasury in
proportion to the enumeration, of youth OF
school age in the respective counties'--
Every township was constituted district,
and entrusted in Board Of Education
consisting of representative from each
sub-district, who are authorized to make
or alter such sub districts, to assess tax
es for the construction Of school houses
and the extension Of school terms, and TO
exercise whatever general supervision oil
educational interests as may berseonsist
ent with the duties enjoined upon the 70
cal directors in each sub-district, A fund
Of one-tenlh Of a mill yearly was appro.
priated "for the purpose Of furnishing
school libraries aud apparatus TO all the
cummon schools Of the State," and the
supervision Of the system was cou6ded
tc State Commissioner elected by the
people. In other respects the present
school law is digest of previous legisla.
ton, and was intended to relieve the pub
lie mind from the confusion and uncer-
iainty caused BY frequent and consistent
amendment.
A sufficient period has now elapsed for
you 10 determine whether the people are
generally satisfied with the present law,or
in what respect it requires modification.
There has been some complaint as to the
manner Of distributing the State School
Fund. Those counties which include pop.
ulous cities are assessed with greater
amounts than the enumeration OF youth
entiLle them TO receive, and in one instance
the amount received is only about one-'
half the sum contributed to the Stale fund.
Sill, it is easy to see that if we consider
the child as The object Of public regard
as ward Of the State for certain de-
gree Of inslruction--that the direct appli-
calion Of the public bounty TO the youth
Of the counties in proportion to the annu
al enumeration, is neither illogical nor In
consistent. Itytesents fair subject, how
ever, for the consideration Of the General
Assembly.
The organization of Township Boards
Of Education, which to the extent Of their
powers aud duties, reduced the authority
Of local directors, was centralizipg inca
sure, aud has undoubtedly produced a
greater degree Of uniformity and efficIen-
cy; but it is grave question whether the
division Of jurisdiction between those bod
les has not led to disagreement and con-
fusion, and whether the power of taxa
tion vested in Boards Of Education has
not been injudiciously exercised.
l. deem il highly important that the
school act should accurately define the
powers and duties Of these officers, res
pectively; although it is quite possible
that former uncertainty in his and other
respects, has been removed by the opn-
ion and advice Of the State Commissioner.
The present system owes much 10 the ha-
bitual and judicous exposilions Of that
Office.
|
Boards Of Education are required to
furnish schools for seven months Of the
year, and they are authorized to direct
assessments +" for school purposes other
than for The payment of teachers" under
which bead the item oil school house
construction is iucluded. They may
also direct assessments not exceeding
two mills on the dollar for the support
Of central or high schools, when lie.
gally established, and for the purpose
Of prolonging after the State funds
have been exhausted the terms OF
the several sub-district or primary schools
in the township" There does not seem 10
be any limitation Of the power OF taxa
lion q for school purposes other than the
payment Of teachers"
The taxes assessed for local school pur-
poses 10 1854 amounted 10 1895. 424,
and in 1855 TO ST., ,946, 346. amounts al
most equal to The State school tax OF a
mill and half on the grand duplicates.
The largest portion Of these assessments
were doubtless for school house structures,
and to prolong the schools beyond the Pc
riod of seven months, and may be regard
ed as extraordinary expenditures. Why
should not the proposition to incur them
be submitted 10 the consideration Of the
people Of the township? AS the services
Of me mbe.s Of Boards Of Education are
gratuitous, those officers are usually ar
dent friends of education, and there is
danger that their zeal in its behalf, how.
ever honorable to them, individually.
may sometimes fail to be sustained by pub
lie opinion, a state Of things certain to
produce an injurious reaction and to i'm.
pair the usefulness of our school system.
1t wcnld be better 10 distribute certain
degree Of educational progress over seye-
raj years. and be sure meanwhile Of cor
dial sentiment Of public approval, then TO
precipitate the same results within single
year, and thereby ALLEVIATE the sympathies
Of community. The latter must sccom ,
pany and sanction all our school move
mems, and no more serious error can be
committed than to mistake the enthusi-
asm Of few for the conviction Of the
many. Let every style be carefully con-
sidered and fully matured, and II unusual
in its nature. ratified BY majority of the
people of the district alta meeting called
for its discussion, and we may confidently
dismiss our fears for the future prosperity