The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-01-14

the work Of moral, social and political
improvement. During the past year
| attended the commencemcnts Of as
many Of the Colleges as was practicable,
and was gratifed to observe the marked
ability and proficiency displayed by the
graduates.
1t is to be regretted that the require
ments for admission and the course ofin-
s'ruction vary SO greatly in these colleges
and seminaries; and l would suggest
the expediency Of establishing by law
some classification of these institutions,
and some educational standards to which
universities, colleges, and seminaries
shall be required respectively to conform
in the admission, instruction and gradua-
tion Of students, as conditions Of incorpo-
nation. 9c A- ~. p" Q.
Besides these colleges and seminaries,
there are Schools, corresponding in gene
raj character with our Common Schools,
but sustained by denominational or pri-
vate resources, in which large number
of youth receive instruction.
1 regret that have no means Of ascer-
tanning the number Of these various edu.
calional institutions; the number Of their
teachers, students or pupils; or their
results md | respectfully suggest the
expediency of such legislation as will Sc
cure the collection of this information, so
essential to full understanding Of the
condition Of our population in this impor-
taut respect. } 5U'.-
1t will not escape your observation that
while the actual progress and condition
Of our Common Schools may well crafty
and encourage the friends Of popular edu
cation, there yet remains a work to be ac<
complished which impo7es grave re'pon-
sibilties aud must need excite earnest so.
licitude. The Whole number of youths
of the school age, as has been lately sta.
ted, is 8i3.5 $40, while the number en-
rolled is 6o9,3l3, making the number not
enrolled 23l l,497 The disparity between
the whole number and the number, 355.
863, in daily attendance, is more striking.
The difference is 48',977. Making eve
ry allowance for the number taught in
private or UNCONVENTIONAL schools, there
must still remain considerable number
who attend no school at all, while of those
who do not absent themselves altogeth-
er, a very large proportion attend so ir-
regularly or for such brief periods that
they derive little benefit from it.
Next to this absenteesm, the most se-
rious hindrance to the prosperity of the
Common Schools is the want of a sufficient
number Of well qualified teachers. Not
few Of our teachers possess eminent
qualifications for their responsible office.
To such we owe not only many excellent
district schools, but also the High Schools
which adorn many Of our cities and towns
and afford opportunities for education
which would have been sought in vain a
few years ago in most of our Academies
and Colleges. A very large numnr, how
ever, are extremely deficient both in
knowledge and in that ability to teach
which mere knowedge..can enever give.
The correction ofthese evils, SO far as
may be practicable, is your duty, and
will be, trust, your pleasure aid your
honorable distinction.
The best means, in my judgement, of
securing an adequate number Of good
teachers, are the establishment Of Nor
NAL Schools and the encouragement Of
Teachers Institutes. | ventured to sug-
gest last year the organization Of a Nor
NAL Department in one or both our State
Universities. More immediate and per-
haps more valuable results would proba-
bly, be obtained from the establishment
Of three or four Normal Schools in differ
ent districts Of the State, giving the pref
erence within each district to the city or
town which would provide the best build~
ings for the purpose without cost to the
State. Provision has already been made
by law for the encouragement Of Teach-
ers' Institutes, but it is uncertain and in
adequate. / recommend the direct ap-
preparation of an adequate sum, to be
paid, on compliance with proper condi-
tions, upon the certificate of the State Com.
missioner.
The indispensable necessity of secur-
ing general, regular and continued atten-
dance in school is universally aeknowl-
edged. Without this the great object Of
the common schools, namely, a good ed
ucation for every child in the State, fails
of accomplishment. The Federal Census
of 1850 exhibited the fact that over thir-
ty-fve thousand persons in Ohio, twenty
years old and upwards, were unable to
read or write. This number was about
one in seventeen of all the people of the
same age. five reflect that besides these
totally illiterate persons, there is a large
number whose education hardly raises
them to a higher level, we shall attain
some just conception Of the Importance of
adequate provisions for universal atten-
dance. We must not be satisfied while
one person capableof instruction remains
untaught or i'll taught. No means seem
better adapted to secure attendance, ava