The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-01-13

Next 10 thS aOSehtcelsm, the most serious
hindrauce to the prosperity of the common
schools, is the want Of n sufficient number of
well qualified teachers. Not few Indeed 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 alotn many of our cities
aud towns, and afford opportunities for sduca-
t;on which would have been sought in vain few
years ago in most OF our academies and col
leges. A very large number, however are ex
tremely deficient both in knowledge anl in that
ability to teach which mere knowledge can new
er give.
The correction of these evils. so far as may be
practicable, is your duty, aud viii b. | trust
! your pleasure aud your honorable distinction,
The best means in my Judgment, OF securing
an adequate number OF good teachers are the
establishment of Normal Schools, and the en-
! couragement of Tea Chers Institutes ventur-
ed to suggest last year the organization of
! Normal Department in one or both our State
! Universities. More immediate aud perhaps more
| valuable results would probably be obtained
| from the establishment of three or four Normal
Schools in different districts of our State. giving
! the preference within each district To the city
or town which would provide the best buildings
| Tor the purpose without cost TO the State. Pro-
vision has already been made by law for the
| encouragement of aChers Institutes, but il is
uncertain and inadequate. | recommend the
| direct appropriation OF an adequate SUN, 10 be
! paid, on compliance with proper conditions, up
on the certificate of the State Commissioner,
i The indispensable necessity OF securing gen.
! era regular and continued attendance in school
is universally acknowledged. Without this the
great object OF the common schools namely,
good education for every child in the State, Tails
I.or ncrnr,, III si,,a"' r,a fAdera census Uf 1000
exhibited the fact that over thirty-five thousand
persons in Ohio, twenty years old and upwards
were unaoie to read or write. This number was
about one in seventeen of all the people of the
same age. If we reflect that besides these totally
iiteratc persons, there is large number whose
education hardly raises them to higher level, We
shal'dttain some just conception OF the impor
tauce OF adequate provision for universal at
tendance. We must not be satisfied while one
= person capable OF instruction remains untaughl
or i'll taught. No means seem better adapted to
secure attendance, awaken interest and quicken
, effort in the attainment of knowledge than (re
quent visits addresses aud conversations by
properly qualified officers of the State. The
= law Recognizes the value of this agency i'll re
quiring the Sta,c Commissioner to devote por-
ton of his time to such labors But it is obvious
that the thorough discharge of the other duties
imposed on him Is quite Incompatible with eti-
cient labors of this kind. | suggest therefore,
that he be authorized to employ one or more
competent agents TO visit every township and
urge upon parents, teachers AMI children. the
} dntps essential to the highest efficiency OF our
schools. This plan has been al0p'ed elsewhere
with the happiest effects. If adopted here, we
need not fear the disclosures of any future cen
suS, OF doubt that our system Of common schools,
already regarded as a model for imitation by
other States, will vinlicate, BY perfect success,
its claims to admiration aud honor.
While We may reasonably hope that the Hit
crate, as class, will soon disappear from our
society, no such pleasing expectation can be in
| dulged in respecr to that large portion of the
community whom defect and disease in mental
or physical organization render proper objects
of public care (; and whose number and relation
, to society constitute another element of our So
cial condition, which must cng8gA your notice
The banevolence of the State has already pro
vded three Asylums for the Insane, which have
cost for grounds aud construction about Si74-
600, an ore sustained 1t an annual expense OF
= 100000, excluding charges properly belonging
to the account of construction aud intercSt.--
r The cost of the Northern aud Central ASylums
B has been about Sl530O0 each that of the
$ Southern about $l63000. The actual value of
the Central Asylum is now probably more than
; double that of either of the Others.
: In tn Sc ASyluns there Were at the beginning
of the last year. $50 inmates, aud there were
S received during the year 4l4 making the whole
r number of participants in their benefits 932
! there We're discharged 4l2 there died 43, and
i there romained a the commencement of the
e current year, $40. OF those discharged, 2i0 had
1 been restored to sanity, and 35 decidedly i'm
4, proved The average expense OF each inmate
d. was about Sl5S
, The Central Asylum will accountable 250 in
5 mates the Northern l50, and the Southern 100.
l. Each has been filled TO the extent OF its capaci-
= ty. Another Asylum is in progress OF con
- struc,ion in Hamilton county, tor the reception
! Of the insane of that county only. After its
i completion and opening that county will con-
stitutc the SOuth-W Western Asylum district.
= The number OF insane in Olo according to
= the census of 1880, was ,503. This number was
doubtlrse uudetSlated, | am satisfied that the
r present number is not less than two thousand,
D The Superintendent of the Central Asvum thinks
| il does not fall short Of three thousand. The
y arguments which establish the du:y Of some pro
d vision for some OF the insane require doubt eSs,
. adequate provision for all. Several plans for
d such provision have been suggested. Oae con
= templates the enlargement Of one or more OF the
= existing Asyluns; another propos 5 to provide
for the support and treatment Of the Insane IN
: the County lnirmirrs while thir not nee
r Gssarily excluding The others suggests the enact
i ment of law for The establishment AMI rcEu.
n la,on OF puvat" asylumS in which largo por.
: tion OF the insane would be provided for By
their friends without charg- to the STATE.
9 have no hesitation in recommending tn. lngisla-
J. iion contemplated by this latter suggestion, -
5 The utormstOn necessary to a well groun ted
II choice between tie other plans Is not ye. cces-
+ 5ible My impression is thai the first viii prove
e most economical an most O-ueirent; il 10
a deed, after the completion of the Southwestern
= Asylum and the euaot,neut Of a jndicious laH
for private ssyiums, either shall be found neces
G sdry
The con lit1n of the i'ouc. equally witt
G that OF the insane, AUS ensi1n tn attention o
) the NH authrOpisI anh statesman A r.y veaI,
e ago ths hspe,S class seemoI h'yOuI rroch o
p eiItcuai re.isf. Rec-ntly, h,Heyer alt.mpu
2 to rescue them from thsrr apparently hoaaie,
}. CONDITION hlyc been crowacd by results w1icl
: inspire hope anil eNcpgc,s Perseverance. icr
j. judlciops humanity ol ta' last General Assem-
r, bly, inSugusied a systematic pan tor their ia