Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-01-08

sion year ago, / transmitted 10 you IN obe-
dicuce 10 the Consultation, foil exposition Of
the general condition Of the State together with /
such recommendation 10 respect 10 legislation,
as the public good seemed to me 10 require.
In that communication / endeavored TO set
m clear light The Industrial progress the
material resources and the financial strength Of
our great commonwealth. 1t seems not iuap-
propfiale, now, before proceeding to more spe-
cialstalcmeuis aud particular suggestions 20 sub
mi. 10 you some general views Of our socul
condition, as effected by other elements than
those 10 which then invited your attention.
Seventy one years ago what is now Ohio was
unbroken wilderness. Seventy years ago the
work OF American civilization within her limits
was Just begun by the settlements at Marietta
und Cincinnati. Fify-four years ago she be-
game State Of the American Union. Her sub
eeQucut social progress has been sublime tri-
umph To-dny powerful commonwealth num-
bering nearly two millions aud a half Of people,
exists upon her soil, with unsurpassed energies
resources agencies Of development, and means
Of happiness. From the emiuence already reach.
ed We survey, with confident reliance upon the
favor Of Divine Providence and the inspiration
Of Free insttutions the lofIicr heights yet to be
obtained.
Promident among the elements which deter
mine social condition IS the numerical advance
or decline Of population. The rate aud char
aeter Of this movement in the absence Of CEN
sus, must be gathered from the number of mar
riages; Of births; Of deaths; of immigrants; OF
emigranis, and Of new inhabitants For ascer-
tanning the number Of these with reasonable
certainty, sufficient means are supplied by Stale
and Federal legislation. According to the es-
innate of the Commissioner OF Statistics, the
marriages 10 Ohio during 1858 were 1900; the
deaths As 600; the births S0,000i the naturali-
xations 5. 600: the new structures 10000. The
increase BY births according to this estimate is
$4,000 annually, and the yearly immigration
from foreign countries and other States is esti-
mated to exceed the yearly immigration by 90
600; giving an aggregate increase Of $4,000 an.
uaaliy, or 100000 in eight years. The new
structures, allowing six persons for each, lndi-
cate nearly the same rate progress. The popu-
lation Of Ohio in 1850 wGs l,9S0329, and is
now, if the estimate just referred to, be correct
2420,329.
The foremost concern Of an intelligent aud
prosperous people is Public Instruction. The
mind Of every community is the motive power
of its advancement; and the measure of its ed
ueation is practically the measure Of production
and OF an substantial progress. In Ohio the
Constitution wisely requires the General Assem-
bly, TO secure thorough aud efficient system Of
Common Schools throughout the State. The
honor OF the FIRST act, in ful6llment of the duty
thus enjoined, belongs to the Legislature Of
1923. That Legislature re-organized com
mon school education in Ohio 1t does not al
all detract from the honor justly due to i, to
say that much has been done by previous legis-
laiion and by the intelligent and jealous labors
Of the first State Superintendent and the State
Teachers Association, TO prepare the way for
the comprehensive aud beDeHcent measure then
adopted, under which the Common Schools Of
Ohio have attained their present state of excel
lcnce and usefulness.
a brief comparison between the condition Of
our Common Schools the year before this enact
ment and at the present time, will illustrate, in
some degree, its happy effects.
The number Of Common Schools in 1883 was
1884; in 1858, l2,500; the number Of youths
over five years OF age and under twenty-one
enumerated in 1858 was SOC, 1872; in 1885, S43-
e40; the youths enrolled as attending school in
1853 were s4l7s iu 1858, 609 343; the aver
age number in dairy attendance in 1853 was 27l,-
196; in 1858, 30a,S63; the number Of teachers
employed in 1853 was 1864; in 1858, 1888;
the amount paid to teachers in 1853 was $780,
1880; in 1858, Sl,9I5,S32; the number O
school houses in 1853 was $3.50; in 1858, TO-,
497; the value of school houses in 1853 was es.
timated at S2,O00000 in 1858. at S3,846, APO
These figures exhibit a gratifying progress
but they by no means furnish a complete view
OF our educational condition.
There has been a constant and rapid progress
which figures cannot measure. The character
and condition Of our school houses and school
rooms has been greatly bettered; the standard
ofqualiHcation for teachers advanced; the meth
DDS of teaching improved; the range and scope
Of instruction enlarged; and the results, in ac
QUESTION and capacity largely augmented.
A great educational work is prosecuted, also
outside of the Commnn Schools. The Colleges
and Female Seminaries in the State, send forth
yearly numerous young men and women to take
up 4 carry forward, in its various departments
the work of moral, social, and political improve
ment During the past year | attended th(
Commencements Of as many Of the Colleges al
was practicable was gratifed to observe the
marked ability and proficiency displayed by thu
graduates.
It is to be regretted that the requirements fol
admission and the course of instruction vary 81
greatly 10 these colleges and seminaries; and
would suggest the expediency of establishing
by law some classification of these institutions
and some educational standards to which uni
versities, colleges and seminaries shall be re
quired respectively to conform, in the admission
instruction aud graduation OF students, as con
ditions Of incorporation.
Besides these Colleges aud Seminares, there
are many Schools, corresponding in general
character with our Common Schools but sus
tanned by denominational or private resources
in which large number Of youths receive in
struction.
i regret that have no means Of ascertainine
the number Of these various educational insti
tuiions the number Of their teachers, student.
or pupils; or their schemes Of instruction.; oI
their results; and respectfully suggest the ex
pediency Of such legislation as will secure the
collection Of this Information, so essential TO q
fuli understanding of the condition Of our pop
nlation 10 this important respect.
Il will not escape your observation that
while the actual pro yress and condition Of ou
Common Schools may well crafty and encour
age the friends Of popular education, there ye
remains work to be accomplished which in
poses grave responsibilities and must needs eG
cite earnest solitude. The whole number Q
youth OF the school age, as has been alread
stated Is e43.540. while the number enrolled
609,343 making the namber not enrolled 234,
497 The disparity between the whole numbe
and the number. s55,s63. in daily attendance il
more striking. The difference is 4S5977. =
Making every allowance for the number taught
4 4 II