The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-01-12

well qualified teachers. Not a few indeed O
our teachers possess eminent qualifications 70
their responsible Office. To such we own no
only many excellent district schools, but ais,
the High Schools which adorn many of ou
cities and towns, and afford opportunities 70
education which would have been sought il
vain a few years ago in most of our Academies
and Colleges. A very large number, however
are extremely deficient both in knowledge anc
in that ability to teach which mere knowledge
? can never give.
The correction of these evils, so far as may
be practicable, is your duty, and will be, ]
trust, your pleasure and your honorable distinc
ton. So,
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 Teachers Institutes. / ven,
tured't to suggest last year the organization of 9
Normal Department in one or both of oul
State Universities. More immediate and per
laps moro valuable results would probably be
obtained from the establishment of three OIL
four Normal Schools in different districts Of
the State, giving the preference within each
district to the city or town which would pro-
vide the best buildings 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 made
quate. L recommend the direct appropriation
of an adequate sum to be paid, on compliance
with proper conditions, upon the certificate OF
the State Commissioner.
The indispensable necessity of securing gen
eral, regular and continued attendance in
school is universally acknowledged. Without
this the great object of the common schools,
namely, a good education for every child in the
State, fails of accomplishment. The Federal
Census of 1850 exhibited the fact that over
thirty-fve thousand persons in Ohio, twenty
years old and upwards, were unable to read or
write. This number was about one in seven
teen of all the people of the same age. If
we reflect that besides these totally illiterate
persons, there is a large number whose educa-
ton hardly raises them to a higher level, we
shall attain some just conception ef the impor-
lance of adequate provision for universal at
tendance. We must not be. satisfied while one
person capable of instruction remains untaught
or i'll taught. No means seems better adapted
to secure attendance, awaken interest and quick
frequent visits, addresses and conversations by
properly Qualified officers of the State The
law recognizes the value of this agency in re-
curing the State Commissions to devote a
portion of his time to such labors. But it is
obvious that the thorough discharge of the 9TH
er duties imposed on him is quite incompatible
with efficient labors of this kind. 1 suggest,
therefore, that he be authorized to employ one
Ut mOIC competent dSSnlo ~ NISlO SNtlJ loMn-
ship and urge upon parents, teachers and chill
dren, the duties essential to the highest eff
cheney of our schools. This plan has been
adopted elsewhere with the happiest effects
If adopted here, We need not fear the disclo-
sures of any future census, or doubt that our
system of Common Schools, already regarded
as a model for imitation by other States, will
vindicate, by perfect success, its claims to adj
miration and honor.
TUl:Ia Ill lo-o 4I,oI Al. :Il:4
crate as a class will soon disappear from our
society, no such pleasing expectation can be in
dulged in respect 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 engage your notice.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The Constitution requires that all property,
of whatever description, and by WhomsoeEer
held, shall be listed for taxation at its true
value. The Revenues eff the State, the Coun-
ties, the Townships, the Cities, the Villages
and the School Districts, are raised by rates
levied, if for State purposes, on the whole
property listed, and if for local purposes, on
the property listed within the proper territorial
limits. The school laws of various years, but
particularly of 1858 and 1854; the road and
bridge laws of 1854, and other years the
poorhouse act of 1881; one act of 1857; two
of 1858, and some other acts of less import
ance, prescribe the rates of taxation.
The School acts direct the levy of one mill
and six-tenths on each dollar of valuation
throughout the State, for general school and
library purposes, and of various rates to be
fixed by the local authorities, for local purpo-
ses, such as the construction of school houaes
and the purchase of sites.
The Road and Bridge laws authorize rates
for the objects indicated bytheir titles, varying
from the twenty-ffth of a mill to nine and a
half mills, to be determined by the County
Commissioners, and an additional rate, not over
six mills, to be levied by the County Auditor,
on property adjoining roads within certain
limits on the petition of the property holders.
The poor house act of 1881, authorizes the
levy by the County Commissioners of an in
indefinite rate for the erection of Inirmaries,
and a rate not exceeding one mill for the sup
port of the poor.
The act of 1857, requires the levy of seven
tenths of a mill for general State purposes; OF
nine tenths of a mill for payment of interest
and principal of the public debt; of rates for
county purposes, within various limits from
two to four mills, to be determined by the
County Commissioners, with liberty to the
Commissioners Of Counties whose taxable val
ues do not exceed S3,000,000, to levy higher
rates; of rates for Township purposes to be
fixed by Township Trustees, but not to exceed
one mill on the first 2 ,O00,0 900 of valuation,
and one fourth of a mill on the excess; of
rates not exceeding four mills, for city and
village purposes, to be fixed by city and vii
lage authorities; and of a rate for city purposes
not exceeding six mills, to be fixed by the
City Council of Cincinnati.
The acts of 1858, require the Auditor of
State to increase the levy for the payment of
the State Debt, whenever it may be necessary
in order to make the Sinking Fund equal in
amount to the requirments of the Constitution
and the laws, and direct the levy of seven
twentieths of a mill in each of the years 1858,
1859 and 1860, to provide means for the pay
ment of the loan of 100000, authorized by
the second of these acts, and intended to sup
ply the deficit created by defalcation.
1t thus appears that the rate of taxation for
General Revenue, applicable to the support OF
the State Government, in all its Departments,
Executive, Legislative and Judicial, and the