Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-25
our Union sehooia.


year, the Commissioners Of Schools requested
special reports from various Graded Schools,
among them Ashtabula. Oniy ten have res
ponded to this request
The frat on the list, is that submitted by the
Superintendent Of our own Schools, portion
Of which we extract from the Commissioner 3
lengthy report for the last year, whice has been
sent US |;
Ca tho I'd Of June, 1885, the graded system
Vas duly inaugnrated The children were appor.
tlOued 6ys different departments or grades;
as Primary, Secondary intermediate, G rammar
sud High Schools.
The change from the old system to the new,
was very great and the difficulties to overcome
many. The public mind, however 10 the dis
eussion Of this subject, bad become somewhat
prepared Cor the change, aud the teachers have
had in their experIencs much reason TO aeknowl-
edge, next TO the ever ready and efficient aid Of
the Board Of Education, the sympathy and kind
ferbesrance Of patrons and fienda and hesi-
tate Dot TO say that much of the working har-
mony and success of the schools since, have
been due to this generous cooperation.
The course Of study in our schools is abo ut
the same as that Of similar schools in other pa-
ces For the lower grades the plan contem-
plates only the elementary aud common studies:
0s reading spelling, writing, mental and written
arilhmatic, geography and English grammar
Fer the high School a more extended course
has besS prescribed, requiring, at least three
full years 10 complete.
Among the most prominent Of the difficulties
We have had to encounter, we may mention the
lax habit Of the scholars, consequent in great
measure no doubt 10 the want of system in
their education. This laxity was shown in eve
TythiDg, bat most apparent, perhaps 10 irregular
attendance and tardiness. The idea that school
duties occupied subordinate position, and that
the schoolroom was the place for children only
when nothing else could be found for them to
do, had been disastrous to previous schools,
aud would have been, no doubt, to this, had it
not been met by the Board Of Edueatiou with
a rule to the effect teat scholars we're expected
70 be present at the opening of school, and
were not to be excused for absence, or to leave
school fsE work, on any reason, except sickness
OF some extraordinary case. This rule when
vigorously enforced, soon wrought a very per-
eeptible reform.
Tardiness, however this disreputable and
most excuseless OF all evil habits continued,
and nothing seemed to reach it, till the expedi-
eut was tried of locking the doors of the
Grammar and High Schools, at the hour of
commencing. This, though at the time attend
ed with some excitement, had the effect to cure
the evil almost entirely in these schools, aud
TO greatly diminish it 10 all the lower grades
But this evil, though diminished, af1cts us still,
and, suppose, will continue to do so, so loag
80 laEiness constitutes the chief element of hu-
man depravity.
Another difficulty has been that of getting
Efficient and thorough teachers. ofwhat worth
is a system, however good, or laws, however
perfect, in the hands OF an incompetent execu-
tiyef We have had. some excellent teachers,
and these We aim to keep as long as possible
But We have not always been fortunate in this
respect To speak plainly, there seems to be,
too often, no very high or proper idea of what
a.school ought to be, and vast amount OF
confusion, equal to chaos. in the minds Of those
who oeer themselves to this important work
Their early education, it may be said, is defect
i've. This is doubtless true. But then his
seems to be Of their own election. The chill
dren up here, aud possibly the same may be
trne ia some other parts, sssua to have been en-
dowed with this inalienable right, or elective
franchise, and must be INDUCED to study any,
thing, as their fancy runs, from Nabob TO Neb.
uchadnezzar What wonder then, that there
are poor teachers Could they be expected TO
elevate their schools above tbemselvesi The
modern lecture system for the wholesale manu-
fAeture OF teachers, 50 popular because so easy
and agreeable, must stand responsible for full
market Of shams Il Is like the attempt 10 6
aessk, which is fundamentally sprung, by pour
log IN HatsE II the quantity be estimated by
the amOont poured, 1t might be considerable;
bct il BY what remains within, it would probA-
bly, be about equal to the mental furnishing Of
some sf these tsAehsrE do not RIIudo to this
suejse. in this connection 70 ridieule their pre-
tensOns, but to state g real diEiealty 10 our ex-
Perence. and, i possible to inspire an ambition
toF something better. Our High School is not
Jet oli enough TO obViste this diaicuIty but ia
part We hope soon. however, to educate our
eva tesehesa h.44
From the frst there had been growing feel
Ing that the accommodations for these schools
especially for the lower grades. were unsuitable
and Inadequate; but for peculiar reasons il was
thought best to defer the agitation Of this sub.
feet Last winter. however, as the lease Of the
academg vas about to expire, and some new ar
rangoments mRst be made the Board Of Eduea.
ton dsensd Il advisable 10 present to the citi-
asps ihe Deceasiliss Of the schools. and ask an
App'epdsfisA foH bHildiag purposes This re-
quest vas very ehssrfalIy responded TO, and al
She result We are now furnished with ample add
good accommodation The Aeadsmy Build
ing was purchased aud repaired. foz. tie Gram
mar sod hlsfmedIate schools; and another
eeia'ng. shout the same size, o. so feet BY 40: