The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-13


continued and growing complaint that the
Union 9cb0oEof Ashland is avsouree Of INA
rseass eSPenss with mo benefit in return. WI
have been spoken to by SO many persons about
tthis matter that we deem It our duty to make
public some suggestions given to US b.. them
That the Union School as at present managed
is . total failure is acknowledged by almost
everybody. Children are sent there day after
day, month and year, and no visible progress
is made. We have heard of a number of in
stances where scholars have been kept in tn,
same class for repeated terms and even beer
at times put back into locer classes. We
mention these facts without any view to re.
feet upon the principal or his teachers; al
any rate without charging the failure -npoa
them. 1t nuay be only the fault of the sys
tenn. With Mr.. Mills, the Principal, We
have no personal acquaintance, although he
has BEEN residept sof,our town for years
We have frequently seen . gentleman upon
our streets that we heard was Mr.. MILLs.-
We do not know that it was him as we never
heard him sPeakto any one, or noticed any
one speak 10 him j; yet he may be avery good
teacher, and the system be all in fault.
We learn from our County Treasurer that
the taxes annually assessed for the support Of
this school amount to nearly Jour Mousand
dollars. This is more than is required for all
other corporation expen .es and is a most oner-
Gus tax upon the people, Still this might be
borne if any equivalent was Returned. But
= e.a I- .-h,- . ba.;3o
paying this tax, sending their children to the
select school kept by Mr.. PETERsoNs because
there they learn something. This thing
should mot be. IF we pay our money ip tax
es. an amount too, largo enough to keep up
two or three first class schools, we should be
entitled to soma return for it. For want of a
good school at the place we are paying our
money. to keep one, men are obliged to pay
other money to selact schools or other %institu-
.tions abroad.
ny persons and, we belieye, in behalf of a
large majority of the citizens of this school
district, we ask that certain questions be sub
mittsd to the citizens. The present school
building or a portion Of the same can be rent
ed to some ~enterprising man and be used as
an academy. The tax of one year will build
three school houses in different portions of
the town-and pay the salary of the teachers.
After this is dole it. will require a very much
smaller tax to keep them going, and We have
no doubt with greatly increased advantage
to the pupils One of the rooms of the
present school building might be reserved as
one of the district school houses. Believing
that a change of programme is almost uni
versatiy demanded we ask of the directors o.
the Ashland Onion School, that they take
measures Immediately to submit. to. a vote of:
the people whether me present Hrranssnent
shall be continued, or whether the union
school system shsl be abandoned, school
houses built in different parts of the town and
an academy formed in this present school
building. We are informed ,hata gentleman,
every way competent, is ready to take the
building and establish a first class academy.
If this is done, it will not only save "a i'm
mense amount of taxes but will bring into
our town a larg= NUMBER of strangers to at
tend the school.
We hope that this-matter viii be at once
taken bold Of by the people and some new
and permanent and better arraossmsnt made
The responsibility is first with the directors.
Let them sp5prtt the matter to the people ID.
terested, and if they vote for a continuance
of the present pIaa, so be it. If moi. let US
organize upon albetter one. s
--
C.LUMBUs, Jan. IL, 1864.