The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-21
school supervision.

'ShVVs SnPCs
The present school law OF Ohio is an improve
ment upon any of it's predecessors, Its pro-
visions are wise, liberal and benthcent. Under
its auspices system of schools has been bull.
up in our cities and villages which surpass in
economy aud efficiency those of any of our sis
tor States. Indeed, this feature Of the law has
worked so admirably as to require little moaih.
cation in any OF its details. But, unfortunately.
the provisions of the law especially adapted to
districts outside of cities aud villages, where
the population is so sparse as not to admit of
graded schools, have failed to yield benefits pro.
portionobe to their great importance and to the
amount of money expended.
1t is true that our district schools, generally,
have improved since the passage Of the present
law, but their progress has not been as rapid nor
as general as the outlay bestowed upon them
demands.
There are yet too many schools, of that
class, whose local directors never visit, whose
founded upon the principles Of non-interpention
whose instructors deficiency, both in theoreti.
cal and practical knowledge, is overlooked be-
cause "our school is small and backward and
we can't afford to hire better teacher
Too many school are sustained during seven
months of the year more by reason of drawing
the public moneys than for the purpose of in.
stillng ideas into the minds of the pupils.
But, says listener, why need this be so .
Have we not a Board of Examiners in each
comfy, who certify to the qualifications ofeach
individual, before he can enter upon the duties
of the school-room, and who have power to grant
certificates for such periods as will show by their
relative length the fitness of the individual for
his profession, and also power to withhold a GER
tificate if candidate is no. properly quail
fed p
True, but what can Board Of Examiners
know of the most important part OF a teachers
qualfications-those indispensable requisites
which can only be displayed in the school room,
which no catechising can elicit and which moth
ing, but an examination of the school under his
charge can afford the requisite information -
A candidate may display ready ability to an.
swer questions propounded by Board of Ey
amners, may indeed give evidence of an unu-
S""i o'hShhN VI 'hS''l, ohh yVh uaht IL HlscId
bic failure from want of judgment or ability to
govern. From the school room, alone, can be
gained the true knowledge of the teachers quail.
| fications.
1t is probable that tn. chief point Of excel
lsnce in our graded school system consists in
its Suppression. One mind gives direction an
inuses energy into all of the schools under its
charge. Indeed, without julicious Suppression
the best graded school, no matter how excellent
its buildngS or how competent its instructors
how much its patrons may b, interested in its
welfare or how much money may be expended
in sustanin9it, would soon retrograde. 1t Nv oulc
be. in the condition Of an army without com
mander. Every instructor would act indepen
dently, AMI although eaci might desire the com
mon goo' yet the schools would form mas!
of separate AMI incongruous elements, incapa
Bile of ever uniting, instsad Of a harmoniou,
number of parts, each of which, is adjusted tc
a symmetrical whole.
If then the present school law has proved Q
partial failure, in its application to country o
district schools, or TO use a morc moderate bu
not less erpressiUe phrase; it it has failed tc
realize the expectations of its friends, it b..
hooves us to seek for the Gauss an enlaavor To
apply the remedy 1t is often urged that in en-
deavoring to elevate and make prominent tn
graded system, district schools have been over
looked to some extent this may b: tru,, but /
is not necessarily so ;--th re is 10 actual an
tagonism between them, and with proper con
nccton each might co operate and assist tn
other,
In looking about us for reasons of the presen
condition of district schools, we cannot attrib
ute it to Dunt Of m:ans; these have ben pro
vided beyond any former president. Nor is il
for want Of suitable buildings, for ii is matte
of pride that our district school HOUSES are fas
rivaling and surprising those of older States
Nor, is it yet for want of cooperation on tn
part of the Inhabitants, the corliulity an,
promptness with whc they pay the State t.,
of one and a half mills on the dollar, and il
many cases an additional self imposed tax t,
the extent of the law, clearly proves that tn
school is cherished institution with those wh
support it.
Where then rests the difficulty? The Law
provides that teachers shall be employed by tn
local directors, furnished with certificate 0
qualifications by County Board OF Examiners
and that he shall report the condition of hi
school to the township clerk From the hou
that the teacher enters his schoolroom unti h
leaves it at the close OF the term no compaten
school officer visits his domain, The law in
deed provides that the local directors shall per
form this duty, but if Blackstone's definition O
unwritten law" whereof the memory Of maj
runneth not to the contrary be applicable i
this ease, the neglect of tl3sa officers to perform
thi. daly has loug Since made this clause OF IN