Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-03

Our Public Schools.
Hox. q. S. STEVENS :-DEAR SIR: I have
heard many complain Of the Board of Edu-
cation, that the needed accommodations for
our schools had not been provided. Many
familiar with the authority and powers con-
ferred upon Boards Of Education IN other
towns, have very naturally supposed that
the Board of this city could, If they desired,
proceed to purchase sites and erect school,
houses, snd DO whatever else the interests Of
cur schools demand. But this is great
mistake. Had the Board of Education the
requisite power to provide for our schoOls'
there would be no cause for the numerous
complaints which are heard on every hand.
Ny official connection with the Board Of
Education commenced on the 1st day of Au-
gust and for these three months have
been familiar with their plans and proceed
ings They have held meetings almost eve
~ week to contrivs and execute measures for
the improvement Of schools. Committees
have been appointed, reports rendered and
resolutions unanimously passed, sll looking
directly to the accomplishment Of the de-
mands of the public in respect to additional
school accommodations. And when they
found that there was little or no prospect of
the speedy erection of the necessary build
ings, they endsavored to lease rooms for
temporary use, that the most crowded
schools might be relieved. Certain nom
bers of the Board have spent much valuable
time in labOrs for the good Of our schools
services for which they have received no PEI
cuniary reward and few thanks.
That our Board of Education have not the
ability to do what they would, will seem a
mystery to those not well acquainted with
the provisions of the statute under which cur
schools are organized. It differs essentially
from all other school laws of our State, or,
SO far as am acquainted,Of any other State
or country. 1t confers upon the Board which
it creates, less power than that possessed by
the Board of Education Of the smallest and
weakest township in Ohio. The Board of
every township, village and city in the State,
whether acting under general or special laws, |
has power within given limits to make every
necessary provision for the prosperity of the |
schools committed to their charge. They can |
report to the County Auditor the amount of |
funds which will be needed for school pur-
poses during the year ensuing, and he is re-
quired to levy the same upon the property
Of the district. The estimates must not ex-
cesd what will be produced by the given
number of mills upon dollar which the law
authorizes but up to this figure they may go
and there is no power in the State that can
thWsrt or hinder them in this business. As
8 matter of fact, not one-fOurth of the school
districts in the State go as high in their esti-
mates as the several statutes authorizs.-I
Where new buildings are not needed, the as
ssssment for school purposes is very light.
The present legal limitation of local leyies,
IS two and three-fOurth mills on the dollar
Taluation. Not q district in Cuyshoga
County, except Chsgrin Falls, requires this
amount. One half of them do not exceed
half the amount. Any one who is curious to
inquire into this matter, is referred to the
annual report of the State School Commits
'iOnsr for the year 1852; PIP 45-55.
But the statute under which the Cleveland
schools are governed, passed March 20, 1859,
iOnfers no authority at all upon the Board Of
Education to dieect taxation for school pur-
poses, further than is expressed in section 5
# the act, as follows:
" The Board of Education shall, on or be-
ore the first regular meeting of the City
,ouncil in May, Of each year, cause to be
certified to them an estimate Of the amount
Necessary to be raised for school purposes,
ohich amount may De inereased or diminished
. the City COrfncil, as they shall see it,"
Again, in section 6 it is provided that,
I" No expense for books, school apparatus,
chOol furniture, or repairs fer any one school
Il school building, shall exceed fifty dollars,
'i:hOtt being submitted 10 the City Council for
PproVol."
am not familiar with the transactions of
ur Board Of Education previous to three
months ago nor can at this moment make ;
inquiry in regard to the matter. I have,
Owever, been informed that the City Coun-
il have bseu requested and importuned to
make provision for the erection of two school
The fault, therefore, is not the
Boards tha! no preparation is making for the
ccOmmOdatiOn of our schools.
Another communication, sir, will close this
cries of letters.
Respectfully yours,
ANSOE SMYTH.