The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-07-11
Ashland Union School.
]. NJ. lands, Sec'y.

ASHLAND, July z, 1000.
MEssRs. EDIToRs While stopping
in town a few days ago, I resolved to en-
joy the pleasure Of hearing aud seeing
what is being done in this School for the
advancement Of the cause of education.
l had heard some very fattering accounts
about the complete success of the present
teachers and was prepared to expect great
improvements. But as I passed through
the different departments and heard the
usual Rotations in each, I found that the
discipline. drill and efficiency Of the
school far exceeded NY most sanguine
expectations. The present Superlntend.
cnt, Prof. j Harper Graham, as a gentle
man, scholar and teacher, has few superi
ors in the State. This becomes evident
at a glance to any person visiting his
school. l found all the teachers Of the
school of excellent education and agreea.
BILE manners, and they cannot but exert a
happy influence wei the children placed
under their care. All seem to take q
hearty interest in their work, and in &C
curing more professional knowledge and
skill. Teachers laboring in this spirit
cannot fail. They will almost invariably
have cheerful, orderly, industrious and
successful schools. The right spirit in
the teacher is the thing most ESSENTIAL
Want Of energy and life is want of every
thing. Energy is now one of the mauy
commendable characteristics of this school
observed while posing through the Il
brary that instead Of the floor being Gov
cred with old papers, dirt and filth Of ev-
cry description, the shelves loaded with a
promiscuOus pile Of books; papers, manu-
scripts, school apparatus, old lamps and
chimneys, broken glass, dust and SCOT, as
they were only a few months ago, every.
thing is now neat and clean aad in prop.
er place. The Professor has steadily
kept before him the maxim that "this is
an age of improvement" He has by q
series Of Examinations" disposed of every
thing which might, "perchaucs," prove
detrimental to the best interest Of the
school. Old systems have been discard
ed and new methods Of teaching adopted
Text books which did not meet the 70.
q%uirements of this generation have been
thrown out and later and better works Sc.
lected. Thus has the school been entire,
ly i%eorganized aud every room in the
building completely renovated, through
the energy, perseverance, and indomitable
will of the Superintendent. But, with
all the energy and enterprise manifested
by the teachers, there is still much to be
done by the citizens. 1t is to day q Ia
mentable fact that Ashland has rot suf6
cient school room for her children. No
one should be unwilling to be taxed for
building more school houses aud employ.
ing q few additional teachers, as it is evi.
dent TO all reasonable persons that the
population Of Ashland has completely out
grown the limited educational facilities
COW afforded. Citizsps, you can not be
too deeply interested in the prosperity of
your schools; you cannot be too anxious
for its success and improvement. Let the
work Of building 20 on during vacation
make sufficient room to accommodate all,
There will then Re no ground for excuses
as these, "There is no ROOM" "the school
rooms are too crowded." "not q suficien
cy of teachers" &c. If this be done and
the present Superintendent remains in
charge, tho school must again take its
place among the first in the State. Twill
make one suggestion with reference to
the school yard. Considerable attention
should be given to identifying the yard
by ornamenting it with walks and fine
shrubbery. Make your school yard pleas.
ant and inviting and there will be no
difficulty in getting the children to attend
school regularly. But if there is no at.
traction about the school room il is like
sending children to q prison. Let every
intelligent man put his shoulder to the
wheel, and the cause Of universal educa.
tion must advance and the more general
diffusion Of knowledge will follow, With
my best wishes for tho success of the
school, l conclude by a word to friend
Graham May but one "single variable
function" enter into the equation Of your
life. II