The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-03-25

and some men who wish to hire teachers at low |
salaries, is no certain evidence that such is the
general character of the Teachers and psoplS Of
any county, Mr. Smyth here puts an u,erpre-
tation upon Mr.. Dodgc's letter which the Ian
guage will not justify. Dodge says "A large |
proportion of our applicants" are barely com.
petent to receive certificates, "and tight
squeeze ot that We see no VOID "some >
there. He also says " 1t has been the aim of
the Board to raise the standard of qualification,
BY rendering each examination a little more
stringent than the preceding. II is doubtful, |
however, whether public opinion will uphold
any Board in this course, at least here. People !
seem to consider it as sure TO result in increased
rates of compensation, and dislike to have their
old $l5 month teachers thrown aside" We
see no word some in that, but instead, pub
Tic opinion people" &c. Now we assert
fearless Of successful contradiction, (and our
columns are open for fair and manly discussion
of the facts, to any porson) that the above as
sertions Of Mr.. Dodge contain little or no
truth" The Average wages of male teachers is
nearly double the amount which he places it t.
and therefore the people" must sanction it.
The Language " at least here is direct and
unjust reflection upon our county as compared
with other counties; otherwise, it is meaning
less The assertion that our teachers, at least
"a large proportion Of them, are scarcely fiji
to receive certificates, is unjust aud incorrect,
unless the standard of qualifications for teach
ing is unusually and unnecessarily high. And
here we will remark that the table of figures,
published in the Commissioners Report, show.
ing the time for which certificates are granted.
is entirely destitute of value because the stand
ard BY which Teachers tried throughout the
State, varies very materially. For instance the
standard Of qualifications necessary to secure a
certificate for six months in this county, NAV
call for twelve or twenty-four months GER
tificate III another county.
How Mr. Smyth can " take pleasure in bearing
testimony to all we sad in respect to he ed
ucational progress and condition of the people
of Wood county" and believe that the letter Of
Mr.. Dodge, which directly conflicts with our
statements will not injure our county 1" TO the
value of single bushel of good merchantabe
corn,' we cannot conceive. We have been in
the habit of thinking that intelligent people. in
seeking new home, would not be slow to note
the educational advantages which 1t would af-
ford. We have thought that reputation, well
founded, for educational progress" was of great
advantage to any county, especially to one
which was comparatively new But it seems
we were wrong, and the publication of official
assertions, in official documents, that our teach,
are rather green our people wanting in ap.
probation of education and nggardly in its
support, is just as good as anything else! At
all events, /" the character and reputation of the
county cannot " be seriously injured by all that
School Examiners and School Commissioners can
DO, let their intentions be ever so mschievous."
Every day brings something new," and this is
rather new doctrine, but emanating from such
high authority, We must of course adopt it If
our School Examiners and School Commission.
ers can do no harm, in the name of common
sense what good can they do? l
We regret that the veied dcformities Of Mr.
Smyth's letter has rendered it necessary for us
to use little severity in exposing it. We wish
to deal with facts in plain and straightfor-
ward manner. without equivocaton or conceal
ment, and whatever will not bear this test
should not be bolsered up by pettyfogging at
tempts to warp the truth.
The publication of Mr. Dodse's letter has
astonshed and mortified our own people, and its
contents have been the subject of much com
ment by the press and people throughout the
entire State. Its composition was the greatest
piece of folly and indiscretion, and its publca
tion was most unfortunate. That Mr.. Smyth,
who is familiar with tn facts, did not discover
its erroneous statements and improper general
tone at glance we wonder much that a sac
ond reading ofthe letter, contradiced as it is by
every fact contained in the Report, did not in
duce him to acknowledge ths oversight, is still
more astonishing
The anecdote which he relates is very good,
but we doubt the propriety of publishing such
things in an official report; and mlst heartily
condemn them when presented in light which
makes their reflection darken the character of
every teacher in the county. The reflected
honor in that case is rather OBSCURE Ed.
Journal.
JOHN ViN BUREEAND THE Stray DOUGLAS
John Van Buren, recently said in q convivial
speech:
:" Well, gentlemea, there is one family has got
back safe into the Democratic party to stay for
life. 1t is the Van Buren family; and if Senator
Douglas only knew the long, dreary road he has
to travel, the deep roaring streams he has got to
swim his horses over the dark stormy nights where
the wind will blow down his tents, and he will be
forced to sleep on the ground with the rain pour
ing on him in torrents. the high, steep and rugged
mountains he has got to climb, the intermnable
deserts where there is no wood nor water he las
got to cross in the road he has taken away from
his fathers house. he would, in my opinion, take
the sraightest chute back into the Democratic
camp" The roar that followed Johns descrip-
ton Of the dangers and difficulties of the route
he himself had travelled since 1913, may be imag
ined but not described.
--At the Republican iublee on the 22l ni