The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-01-12

ry forward, in its various departments, the
work of moral, social and political i'm
provement. During the past year | at
tended the Commandments of as many of
the Colleges as was practicable, and was
grati6ed to observe the marked ability
and proficiency displayed by the gradu-
ates.
1t is to be regretted that the require
ments for admission and the course of in
lstruction vary so greatly in these colleges
and seminaries, and would suggest the
texpediency of establishing by law some
classification of these Institutions, and
some educational standards to which uni
lversities, colleges and seminaries shall be
required respectively to conform, in the
admission, instruction and graduation
Of students, as conditions of incorpora.
Ition.
Besides these Colleges and Seminaries,
there are many Schools, corresponding in
general character with our Common
Schools, but sustained by denominational
or private resources, in which a large num-
ber of youth receive instruction.
| / regret that have no means of ascer
tanning the number of these various edu-
cational institutions; the of their teachers
students or pupils; or their schemes in
structien; or their results and respectfully
suggest the expediency of such legislation
as will secure the collection of this infor-
lnatisn, so essential to full understand
ing of the condition of our population in
this Important respect
II will not escape your observation thaJ
while the act nal progress and condition
of our Common Schools may well CRAFTY
and encourags the friends of popular ed
ucation, there yet remains work to be
accomplished which imposes grave respon-
lsibilities aud must needs excite earnest
solicirude. The whole number of youth oi
the school age, as has been already stated
lis 843.540. while the number enrolled is
sos, S43, making the number not eDroll-
ed 234, 491. The disparity between the
whole number aud the number, 355, 1858,
in daily attendance, is more striking
/ The difference is 4S5,977. Making ev-
lery allowance for the number taught in
must still remain a considerable number
who do not attend any school at all, while
of those who do not absent themselves al.
| together, very large proportion attend
4 SO irregularly or for such brief periods tha
they derive little benefit from it.
1; Next to this abse nteeism, the most Sc
rious hinderance to the prosperity of tn,
, Common Schools is the want of a sufi
: eient number of well qualified teachers
: Not a few indeed of our teachers posses
eminent qualifications for their responsi
: BILE Office. To such we owe not only man
: excellent district schools, but also tn
High Schools which adorn many of on
t cities and towns, and afford opportuni
: ties for education which would have beer
S sought in vain few years ago in most Q
d our Academies and Colleges. Much tn
: larger number, however, are extremely de
Il ficient both in knowledge and in that abi
:, ity co teach which mere knowledge ca
! never give.
It The correction of these evils, so far a
t may be practicable, is your duty, and wi
n be, trust, your pleasure and your honor
: able distinction.
It The best means, in my judgement, {
d securing an adequate number of goo
II teachers, are the establishment of Norm;
% Schools and the encouragement of Teacl
Is ers' Institutes. ! ventured to suggest La
l. year the organization of Normal D.
l. Epartment in one or both our State Unive
d. stiles. More immediate and perhat
re- more valuable results would probably /
D. obtained from the establishment of thr,
10 or four Normal Schools in different di
l. tricts of the State, giving the preferen,
within each district to the city or tow
l. which would provide the best buildin,
.r for. the, purpose without cost to the STAT
1t Provision has already been made by la
Is lor the encouragement of Teacher Inst
tutes but it is uncertain and Inadequate
in l reconmend the direct appropriation
le alt adequate sum, TO be paid, on compl
.e ance with proper conditions, upon ii
3 certificate of the State Commissioner
le The Indispensable necessity Of securr
3 general, regular aud continued altendan,
iO III ocuOOl rs iSluulttTSdily uChuOWieuScU. :
in Without this the great object OF the cor
le mon schools, namely, good educatit
as for every child in the State, fails of accon
nt plishment. The Federal Census of 81
}; exhibited the fact that over thirty-f
oil thousand persons in Ohio, twenty yea
j. old and upwards, were unable to read
'3 write. This number was about one
at seventeen of all the people of the sar
age. If we reflect that besides these t
o. tally illiterate persons, there is lar
q number whose education hardly rails
IL them to higher level, we shall alta
some just conception of the importan
id of adequate provision for universal atte
= dance We must not be satisfied viii
ol one person capable of instruction renal
ly untaught or i'll taught. No means see
or better adapted to secure attandanc
b. awaken interest and quicken effort in i
n- attainment of knowledge than freaue
c. visits, addresses md conversations by Or