The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-06-15
OMEN A WHILE
For the PORTAGE Countv DemI


To THE PATRONS AND TEACHERS OF COMMON
SCHOOLS IN PoRrAeA CousTy-The system of education
iu our common schools is matter in which all are
deeply ineres ed You will then deem it obtru,ive,
if those whom this important trust is committed as
examiners should address few suggestions to on
subjects connected with our commen schools.
1t is dictate of reason and common sense, that
those whom intrust the education of children
should be persons of high character and of exemplary
department in all respects that they shall be patterns
their scholars in morals, in in temper and
in industry. OF these qualifications cannot know;
parents and school directors must judge. But in our
judgment, and they may be aided by the friends of
education, who called upon to certify to the moral
of applicants for examination We shall
certificates ell known individuals tesying all
to what they know.
The examinations reveal sad deficiency in the
knowledge Of primary studies in persons applying for
certificates to teach school, paiculai in reading and
English grammar Reading TO be neglected in
schools as scholar is able stumble through
sentence and the nanner, and infections, which
express delicate shades of thought. attended
to. The knowledge of grammar seems in many instan
confined to etymoogy. The candidates are able to
designate with considerable the parts of Speech
but about the dependence of one word upon another
agreement, government and The modifying influence of
words. they know Iittle and constrained
young understand it, and have thus contracted dis
like for it, they gone through its exercises far
the syntax, then schools and they suppose Them
selves qualified to teach grammar which they have never
learned all the other parts of grammar have the
relation to synlax that the letters have TO words
avas little 10 knew letters. unless person can form
syables and words is important to know the parts
of Speech but it avails little unless the laws by which
they formed into sentences are also known.
We esteem knowledge of the grammatical principles
of punctuation also, to be mportant but find that
attention paid to the subject and many not to
that there such principles if there tha
there any means, within their reach, of ascerainng
them. We feel constrained to say, that there is capita
deficiency in the knowledge of grammar, and give
notice. that after May examination, shall require
better acquaintance with this study from all who re-
ceive tificates.
In arithmetic there is deficiency of knowle dge, in
respect to the eratons with deema and placing the
decimal point, by which thee may be made great diff
ference between 100 cents and thousand dollars
And in all departments lack of scholarly We
believe that much time is given algebra, philosophy
other studies of like nature, which would be much
better expended upon the fundamental branches for
these are in the beginning, there is
foundation accurate scholarship ANY study must be
pursued to dis advantage, and the deficiency must bs
supplied in indirect way, with much expf nse o
money, time ar patience.
We make these suggestions, that those purposing tt
apply for examination the coming a may be prepared
for a rigid examination
1t is duty, which owe to The public, to say tina
those who do propose teach school, ought not t.
apply for examination. .r
also it to ourselves to say, that no examina
will be att nded upon except the regular days
examination, the third Saturday of each month, unles
the examination be advertised in the papers. And w
review proceedings at the call of every
who may be disappointed in receiving certificates tn
only remedy is examination with better prepare
tion. 8 tnHa F1s JOHN C. HART,
J. A DRAKE,
-Haadt .+. SD 'st ~ L.. ID. WOODWORTH