The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-01-17

enumeration OF youth ot school age with
in the respective counties. Every town
ship was constituted district, and intrus-
ted in board of education consisting OF
representative from each sub district
who are authorized to make or alter such
sub-districts. to assess taxes for the cou-
tstruction OF school-houses and the extern
sion of school terms, and to exercise
whatever general supervision of educa-
tional interests may be consistent with
the duties enjoined upon the local direct
ors in each sub district. A fund, of one
tenth of mill yearly was appropriated
for the purpose of furnishing school IL
litfaries- -aAd-applratu, to all the common
schools of the State, - and The supervis-
ion of the system was coltided to State
commissioner elected by the people. In
fotlper respects the present school law Is a
digest OF previous legislation, and was
intended to relieve the public mind from
the confusion aud uncertainty caused by
frequent and inconsistent amendment.
a sufficient period has now elapsed for
you to determine whether the people are
geucrally satisfied with the present law, OF
in what respect it requires modification
There has been some complaint OF thu
manner distributing the State school fund.
Those counties which include populous
cities are assessed with greater amounts
than the enumeration OF youth euutle
them To receive, aud in one instance the
amount received is only about one, hall
the sum contributed to the State fund
Still, it is easy to see that IT we consider
the child as the object Of pdbliclegard-
as ward of the State for a certain dc
gree Of inStrncton-ihat the direct ap
plication Of the public lounty to the
youth of the counties in proportion to the
annual enumeration is neither illogical non
consistent. 1t presents fair subject,
however, for the consideration of the Cen
eral Assembly.
The organization of Township Boards
of Education, which, to their powers and
duties, reduced the authority of local dl-
rectors, was centralizing measure, and
has undoubtedly producet! 81 eater degree
of uniformity and efficiency; but it is a
grave question whether the division of jn-
risdiction between those bodies has not
led to disagreement and confusion, and
whether the power of taxation vested in
Boards of Education has not been inju-
diciously exercised.
| deem it highly important that the
school act should accurately define the
powers and duties of these officers res
pectivey; although it is quite possible
that former uncertainty in this and other
respects has been removed by the opinion
and advice of the State Comm issioner.-
The present system owes much to the hab-
itual and judiciously expositions Of that
office
Boards Of Education are required to
furnish schools foi seven months of the
year, and they are authorized to direct as
sessments f" tor school purposes other
than for the payment of teachers, un-
der which head the item of school house
construction is included. They may also
direct assessments not exceeding two mills
on the dollar for the support OF central OF
high schools; when legally established,
and " for the purpose of prolonging after
the State funds have be1n exhausted the
terms Of the several sub-districts or pri.
mary schools in the township. There
does not seem to be any limitation of the
power of taxation . for school purposes
other than the payment Of teachers. y
The taxes assessed for local school pur-
posses in 1854 amounted to $l ,295, Il a
and in 1855 to S ,245. .345, amounts al
most equal to the State school tax OF Il
mill and halt on the grand duplicates
The largest portion of these assessments
we've doubtless for school-house struct-
urcs, and to pro.ong the school beyond
the period of seven months, aul may be
regarded as extraordinary expenditures.
Why should not the proposition to incul
them be submitted to the consideration OF
the people of the townships? AS the
service of members of Boards of Educa-
ton are gratuitous, those officers are usu-
ally ardent tliends OF education, ami there
is danger that their Zeal in It's behalf,
however honorable to them individually
may sometimes fail to be sustained bv
public opinion, state Of things CERTAIN
TO produce an injurious reaction and to im
pair the usefulness of our school system
1t would be better to distribute certain
degree of educational progress over seve
raj years, and be sure meanwhile OF cor
dial sentiment of public approval, than
to plecipltate the same results within ;
sing le year, and thereby ALLEVIATE the sym
pathies of community. The latter mus
accompany and sanction all our schou
movements, and no moIe serious elro
can be committed than to mistake tn
enthusiasm of Few for a conviction o
the many. Let every style be CAREFUL,
considered and fully matured, and, if un
usual in its nature, IA ihed by maorit
of the people oi the district at neetin;
called for lis discussion, and We may con
fdently dismiss our fears :or the iutar
prosperity and advancement Of the caus
of popular education.
i The Report OF the Board Of Trustee
furnishes very full and satisfactory &C
count OF the past history and present con
di:on of the Benevolent. Institution
located in Columbus. The lapse OF tim
has confirmed the wisdo1n of the polio
WHICH suSSeStcu lllelr estaOllnllHellt-
Every year has widened the circle ot thei
usefulness. At the Same time that til
humanity of the age has been gratiiet
they have been instruments of conlerrin
the greatest blessing upon the unfortunal
class who have been inmates OF them
The Institutions for the Deaf and Dunn
: and the Blind reach azclass.,of children 1,
which ouI public schools had not provic