The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-01-16

speolied uumber OF reports made 10 him by
the several depaTtmenA ofthe State Govern
ment in time to have the same ready for
disiTibulion at the meeting Of the General
Assembly. The Law should, like that pro-
udins for the distribution Of the laws and
journals. spesify certain officers and instilu-
lions to whom copies Of these documents
should be officially transmitted. rs soon as
delivered to the Lsgis. Atnre, leaving rea-
sonAble number to be distributed BY the
members themselves among their eonsIitu'
snta.i sss,9s f...l-1 a4
Such alaw, instead Of Increasing would
certainly diminish the txpen"s now incur
red, a. the matter would be printed but
once, and the contractors have ample time
tcmske The reqaired arrangements. The
Information designed 10 be communicated
would then reach the people much earlier,
and FhabIe them 10 make such suggestions
to THAR representatives. as they might think
proper. /, ..-s
.The initiatoTy measures which have been
adopted by the Secretary Of State to gather
the statistics Of the agricultural wealth and
improvements OF the State. render the re-
port Of tina, officer for the current year, one
Of pnusual intsfe,t, ard demonstrates the
wisdom Of lhsi provision Of the Constitution
which contemplates the establishment OF a
Bureau OF Statistics in connection with that
Office. There are few persons outside oil Ohio
who fully realize the extent and greatness
ether natural resources.
With the view OF developing these resour'
'ces, and Of collecting and preserving the in
formation Of so much value to the General
Assembly, as we'll as to The people, re.
speetfuly recommend the establishment, by
asw, OF Bareau Of Statistics, as authori.
sed and suggested by the provision referred
70. II il neither in conformity with sorni
policy nor with the digaity Of the State. to
rely entirely upon the decinnial rerorts OF
the Federal Government &or q knowledge OF
cur own Teleurces and progrSs
The State Of Ohio is j lstly distinguished
for liberal and enlig ghLened g. stem OF put.
lie instruction. Contemplated by the ter
Ti.orial legislation of Congress, it was Ut
dsrtaken By the people ef the State as soop
as the sxigeRcies of a frontier and the expo.
sures of war would allow, and has encountered
less .obstruction and ms,e encouragement
from the public sentiment than has usu'lly
been observed in the progress OF similar
systems elsewhere. General education rs
recognized by the Constitution of 1851 as a
duty of Government no less than parental
obligation, and the law of March ID, 1853.
not only furnished ampleprovsion for schools
of every grade, but will be memorable in
our annals for establishing the principle that
they are open TO all-Free or Common
Schools, in The fullest sense OF the te m.
instead Of M xcd State and County tax OF
y mill and half for their support. the act
in question directed State School tax, and
that it, proceeds be distributed from the
State Treasury in pr"p' rtion 10 the enume'
ration of ytu,h Of school age within the res.
pec;ive counties. Every township was con-
ttitnted district, and entrusted to Board
OF Eiu.ation consisting OF a representative
from cash sub district who are authorized tu
make or alter such sub districts, TO asses
taxes for the construction OF school houses
and the extension of school terms aud to
exercise whatever general supervision OF ed
ucational interests may be consistent with
the duties enjoined upon the local directors
in each. su.o district. fund Of one-tenth
of = mill yearly was appropriated "far the
purpose Of furnishing sch ol libraries and
apparatus to all the common schools in the
= State" and the supervis OIL WAS conhIed To
State Commissioner elected By the people.
In other respects the present school law is a
digest ofprevous Legislation, and wasinten-
ded to relieve the public mind from the con-
fusion and uncertainty caused by frequent
aud inconsistent amendment.
A suficien. period has now elapsed for
You 10 determine whether the people are
generally satisfied with the present aw,or in
what respect, il resuits modification. -
There has been some complaint OF the man
nerof distributing the State School Fund.
Those counties which include populous cit
les are assessed with greater amounts
than the enumeration Of youth enttle ;hem
TO receive and in one instance the amount
received is only about one half Of the sum
contributed TO the State Fund Still, it is
easy TO see that il we consider the child rs
thsobj.'ct of public regard as ward Of
Ehe Syate for ain degree OF instruction
--thst the direct application Of the public
bounty TO the youth Of the counties in pro-
posti0h to The annual enumeration. is Meth
er,Elasical nor Inconsistent. Il prtsents a
fair sulirct. however, fot the consid,rati, n
Of the General Assembly.
Nv The organization Of township Boaids Ct
,Educa,ion, which, to tne exten. Of heir
spbRers and duties. reduced the auth rity
of local directors. was centralising meas
ure, and has undoubtedly produced great
er degree of uuf,rmity and efficiency; but
II ia a grave questiou whether the division
OF jurisdiction between these bodies has not
,lsds 10 disagree ment and confusion, and
whether the power Of taxation vested in
Boards Of E ,ucation has not been irjudici-
ousiy exefcised.
deem ithighly important that the school
act should accurately d, 6ne the powers and
duties ct these officers, respectively; aitho'
tits unite, possible that former uncerta nty
,in this and other respects. has been reno
we'd by the opinion and advice Of the State
sConmissioner. The present system owes
.snneh 10, the habitaal and judicious exposi
tions Of that office. 9 ~
Boafda Of Education are required to fur
alsh schools for seven months Of the year,
and dthcy are authorized 10 direct assess
snsals .'Eor school purposes. other than for
the payment OF teachers" under which head
the item Of school house construction is ia
clndsd They may also direct assessments
-aos exceeding tive mills an the dollar for
the support Of central or high schools. when
kQalIY established. and "for the pnrnose oi
prolonging after Staie funds have been ex-