The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-06-04
For the Spirit of Democracy.
Iyne Township Schools.

F- WAoAiR 9O40O1Ss 9545
The subscriber having been appointed
by the Teachers Institute of this county,
to Report the condition of schools in this
township, respectfully represents:
The township is divided into seven
sub-districts, with an average number Of
about seventy youths of school age, in
each district-making the total number
400; OF this number, $50 was, in the last
year, enrolled on the school journals.
Average daily attendance l75-showing
that only one-half the number enrolled
have been in full attendance. But it must
be remembered that the average thus made
is composed of pupils who attend, in part,
only - few days. The progress in scholas-
TIC attainments, must therefore, be very
limited. To these difficulties must be
added the indIscriminate method of teach
ing all ages aud grades, by one teacher.
These difficulties are peculiar to many
rural districts in this county. Little pro-
gress can be made where the labor of the
teacher is divided upon such a variety OF
ubjects-from the alphabet to the high
est course in Grammar and Arithmetic.
The school edifces of this township are
composed of hewed logs-except one dis
trict, which has a neat frame, well fur
nished. They are generally accommoda-
ted with desks and comfortable seats.
The Board Of Education has made no
provision for sustaining seven months
school, except that which the State has
furnished. IF a residual of funds be in
the treasury at the expiration of the win
ter session, some districts have a summer
session, while in others there is a manifest
indifference to prolonging the schools
longer than four months-another class
is indifferent to the subject of education
in any manner. If the influence of the
school law had been removed, we can per-
ceive no genuine evidence that any pro
gress in education would have been made
within the last ten years in this township.
To this enlightened system of State edu-
cation, we Owe many indications of ad.
vances that are only beginning to be real
lied. Let the people be patient-al
human progress has ever been slow.
1t is justice to remark that the Board
of Education has devoted much labor upon
building and locating the sub-districts
1t remains that they should new furnish
o fund sufficient for seven month schools
annually-to this add the graded system
and much good must be the result. There
are many elements of wealth and refine.
ment in this township, Notwithstanding
the present backward state of schools
With an Industrious agricultural popula
tion-cultivatiEg a rich, deep soil, will
vast forests of timber, and as pure watel
as "ever slaked the thirst of the rec
man"-to which may be added building
stone, with some indications of coal, moth
ing remains to be done bnt the prope
cultivation of the rising generation.
The Eclectic educational series is uset
to the exclusion of all others.
The above estimates are not made from
the official reports; but from the subscri
ber's intimate acquaintance with the sub
ject, they may be regarded as approx
mating the true state of educational at
fairs in this township.
Y. C. KNIGHT.