The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-01-10
tm, For the JefIersoninn Democrat,
The School Law of 1853.uo7as

Asour Legislature 10 about TO convene,
!. may not be out Of place to call atttontion
to one or two provisions of our School
Law, which. j. seems TO, me, should be
amended. Doubtless, many Of our legisla.
tors have themselves beeu, teachers in the
common schools of Ohio but II may be
assumed that few, arc really familiar with
the practical workings. 10 rural districts,
of the late School Law. a'' 5000 ,tl
Sec. 44th o. the act pasecd March Is,.
1853, provides for the appointment Of a
Board of School Examiners, by tho Pro-
bate Judge of each county. for the term Of
two years. Among tho .povers aud duties
Of said Board enumerated 10 Sec, 45ih of the
samc net, they ar@ required 10 examine up-
plicants and to grnns certificates. aud. at,
at any time, the recipient OF the certificate
shall be found Incompetent, or negligent.
the Examiners, or any two of them, may
revoke the same and require, such teacher
TO be dismissed. "H SEQ 2d Of tho same act
pro ides for tho etection of local dirootors
aud, little further on ;, We find tbolr duties
PrcscriDed, among which -ro me following
To dfsmfss any 'tcactier., sat any lime. for
such reasons as th6y may deem sufiicient
10 uist tie ssh9ots qf'ithoir respective dis
iricIs at least twice during eaob term, with
such other person or persons, competent to
examine tho pupils, as. they may ,clIposo 30
invite. Here. We see. that, what is made
the duty OF the Txaminers in Sec. 45,h.. is
made. the DUTY ,ot. the local directors In Sec.
"a. withsthis importsnt differences. 'thht the
sforInerFhre 20 7dismiss sfose s,incompetencc
or hseIvct of dpty." while tho latIef ran dv
the sawe FOR s,tsh reGsoa'as they may dsem
sufficient! Ifths local directors. with the
competent attepdnn,. should, in, thoir wis.
dom, deem ihs teacher Incompetent or
negligent and should consider this "sut.
hciopt reason" 1or dismissal, what becomes
Of the power granted to tho Board of Ex.
aminers. who arc permitted 10 dismiss fl,
tho seme good reasons! But this 10 no,
ALL ln nine cases out of ten. no suct
visits aro ever made by the local directors
unless sent for to dismiss somo refraclor,
pupil instead Of tho teacher; and rs nc
! provision seems 10 be made BY which the
Examiners arc to ascertain the "incnnipo
tepcy OF. neglect" is il .noi plain that, In ih,
majority of cases, tho basest frauds may bs
practiced upon community, by so:cailee
teachers. without the loast fear Of punish
ment ?? os -'e A""'A 81 ~
The local directors are required, wi,hir
fve ,days of their election. 10 take an oatf
10, dischargo. tJaakJ fully aad imparfiaiiy.'
the duties of their office, but there scent
TO be no penalty attached for q neglect ol
said duties, and, as .cusiom has become, q
sort OF second law, o man may, violate hi,
oath with impunity. h..
Tho questions which arc often presented
at our Boards CT Examination ars, BY nc
means. slsure ,test OF q mans capacity u
teach asd govern n school of so to 40 pupils
Of all grades, fsom 8 to 2l years DID,
Should i not. therefore, be made tho duiy
OF the Examiners TO visit tho schools o.
their respective counties or. at ieast should
not tho law be enforced by which. II is mad,
the duty Of local directors 10 do tho same
By the way, Mr.. Editor. allow me To say
that -ihe TeacheSs' Association of which
some notice vas givoD in your piper q fe~
weeks since. is fourishing moderately, and
is accomplishing all tha, could be cxpeetesl O.
il at this stage ef lis existence Permit Inc
10 add that. on the evening of tho l8:h inst.
Mr. B A.. Hinsdale. of Hiram, will lecture
before the Association, on asubiect of deer
interest to teachkrsgna parents. N N.
| Middlefold Ian 3d l81a . - sTtr. q 'p'