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

ASSoACA ~
sion a year ago, l transmitted to you in ODE
diepce tszthe Constitution, a full exposition o
the general condition of the State, togethe
with such recommendations in respect to legis
lation, as the public good seemed to me to re
quTe.2
In that communication I endeayored to sc
in a clear light the Industrial progress, the ma
terial resources and the financial strength o
our great commonwealth. 1t seems not map
rpropriate, now, before proceeding to more spe
cial statements and particular suggestions, II
submit to you some general views of our socia
condition, as affected by other elements thai
those to which / then invited your attention.
SOCIAL CONDITION.
= Seventy-one years ago what is now Ohio wa!
unbroken wilderness. Seventy years ago tn
work of American civilization within her limit:
was just begun by the settlements at MARKETS.
and Cincinnati Fifty-four years ago she be
came a State of the American Union. He
subsequent social progress has been a sublime
triumph. To-day a powerful commonwealth
numbering nearly two millions and a half Of
people, exists upon her soil, with unsurpassed
energies, resources, agencies of development
: and means of happiness From the eminence
already reached we survey, with confident re,
lance upon the favor of Divine Providence and
the inspiration Of. Free Institutions, the Ioftie1
heights yet to be attained.
Prominent among the elements which de-
termine social condition, is the numerical ad.
vance or decline of population. The rate and
character of this moyement; in the absence OF
a census, must be gathered from the number
of marriages, of births, of deaths, of immi-
grants, of emigrants and of new habitations.
For ascertaining the number of these with
reasonable certainty, sufficient means are sup
piled by State and Federal legislation. Ac-
scording to the estimates of the Commissions
of Statistics, the marriages in Ohio during
1858 were $4,000; the deaths $4,000 the
births $4,000; the Naturalization 5000 tho
new structures 10000. The increase by births,
according to this estimate, is $4,000 annually,
and the yearly immigration from foreign eoun-
tries and other States is estimated to exceed the
yearly emigration by 10000; giving an aggre-
gate increase of $4,000 annually, or 100000
in eight years. Tn new structures, allowing
six person for each, indicate nearly the same
rate of progress. The population of Ohio in
1850 was ~1,980,329, and is now, if the esti-
mate, inst referred to, be correct, 2,420 ,329. e
The foremost concern of an intelligent and
prosperous people is Public instruction. The
mind of every community is the motive power
of its advancement; and the measure of pro-
.duction and of all substantial progress In
Ohio, the Constitution wisely requires the Gen
eraf- Assembly to secure a thorough and eff
Gent system of Common Schools throughout
the State. The honor of the first act in fulfill
VI II QQIl lAuS CDJOlnCo OCtOnSS " IAO.
: Legislature of 1923. That Legislature re-
organized Common School Education in Ohio.
It does not at all detract from the duty justly
duesto it, to say that much had been done by
previous legislation and intelligent and jealous
1abors of the first State Superintendent and the
: State teachers Association, to prepare the way
: for. the comprehensive and benefcent measures
the adopted under which the Common Schools
of Ohio have attained their present state of ex-
Hcellence and usefulness.
brief comparison between the condition
of our Common Schools the year before this
enactment and at the present time, will illus
ztrate, in some degree, its happy effects.
EDUCATIONAL.
The number of Common Schools in 1858
was 1854; in 1858, 1880; the number of
youths over five years of age and under TWEEN
.tT-one enumerated in 1858 was SOC, 1872; in
1858, S53,S40; the youth enrolled as attend
ing school in 1858 ,358,417 in 1858, 500, 1876 /;
the number of teachers employed in 1858 was
IA, 564 gin 1853, was $500, 145, 90 in 1858,
:SI,975,S32; the number of school houses in
1853 was $3.50; in 1858, 10,497; the value
of school houses in 1853 was estimated at
g. $1,000; in 1858, at So, 846,420.
aefThese figures exhibit a gratifying progress ;
but they by no means furnish a complete view
of eur educational condition.
There has been a constant and rapid pro-
gress which figures cannot measure. The char
acter and condition of our school houses and
school rooms has been greatly bettercd the
standard of qualification for teachers advanced;
the methods of teaching improved; the range
andsscope of instruction enlarged and the re-
suits, in acquisition and capacity, largely aug
mented
IA great educational work is prosecuted, also,
outside of the Common Schools. The Cole
ees and Female Seminaries in the State, send
forth yearly numerous young men and women
to take up and carry forward, in its various de-
partments, the work of moral, social and poll
teal Improvement. During the past year L at
tended the Cemmencements of as many of the
Colleges as was practicable, and was g~ratiied to
observe the marked ability Inc profcieney dis
played by the graduates.
= It is to be regretted that the requirements
for admission and the course of instruction
vary SO greatly in these colleges and seminaries;
and I would suggest the expediency Of estab-
fishing by law some classification of those insti-
buttons, and some educational standards to
which universities, colleges and seminaries
shall be required respectively to conform, in
the admission, instruction and graduation of
students, as conditions of Incorporation
Besides these colleges and seminaries, there
are many schools, corresponding in general
character with our common schools, but sus-
tained by UNCONVENTIONAL or private resources,
IN winch a large nuHpeF ol you'n Ae0ei'e
struction.
I regret that / have no means of ascertain.
ing the number of those various educational
institutions, the number of their teachers, stu.
dents or pupils or their schemes of instruc-
ton; or their results; and I respectfully sug
gest the expediency of such legislation as will
secure the collection of this information, so es
genital to a full understanding of the condition
of our population in this important respect;
: IL I'll not acoanP VOnr observation that
While the actual progress and condition of oul
Common Schools may well crafty and encour
ace the friends of popular education, there. yet
remains a work to be accomplished which i'm
poses grave responsibilities and must needs ex
cite earnest solicitudo. The whole number o.
youth of the school age, as has been already
stated, is s4S $40, while the number enrolled
ia 8O9 .g43, making the number not enrolled
ga. 1877. The disparity between the Who'll