The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-04-05
Findlay Uuion school.

Ftnuiny DufOn ScnOOi.
AS the lower departments Of the
Union School will close soon, it is
thought that few words upon their
condition and wants will not be out
OF place.
At the present time they are not
what they should be, owing to their
crowded condition. In three OF
them, there are from one hundred to
one hundred and twenty scholars
each. In two others, there are over
seventy I've scholars, each, and in
the Grammar school, about seventy.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the school rooms are entirely in
adequate TO accommodate so large n
number of scholars, and that they
are very poorly ventilated, any one
can readily see that Improvement,
labor accomplished and discipline
must all be only partial and unsatis-
factory in their results. II present
arrangements are suffered to continue,
there will be less real advancement
than ever.
No teacher can, under such difll
culties, do justice to himself or to his
school. 1t is sheer nonsense to ex-
pect him to do for one hundred schol-
ars, what is required Of the best tai
ent, the greatest experience and fit
ness for the business, when the num-
bcr does not exceed forty.
Any one acquainted with the work
ings Of the school room, will ac-
knowledge that forty scholars are
enough for one teacher. A person
thoroughly trained and skilled in the
teachers profession, will find that
his time, his talents and experience
will all be employed with that mum
ber.
At present, we have four Primary
teachers, one secondary, and one
Grammer sch ,ol teache'. Assuming
then that not one of them should
have over forty scholars, the Findlay
Union School, to day, needs eight
Primary, two Secondary and two
Grammar school teachers. Consider
the actual benefit that would flow
from such an arrangement. Our
schools would he more easily controll-
ed, better taught, and at once would
fall in to line with the other great in
tcrests of Findlay. viva.
The citizens demand that this
should be done, and they also demand
that the best talent be secured to in.
struct their children. They demand,
too, that their sons and daughters
be we'll trained scholars, giving cvi-
dence of intellectual power steadily
increasing, and not that they be mere
machines by which the books are en-
abled to talk. 1t will cost more
money to bring about such results,
but 1t will make better men and bet
women of our youth.
Another thing that would give
greater efficacy to our schools, is
that the Superintendent should de.
vote one half his time to the super
vision OF the schools. But his time
is now nearly all taken up in the
High School The good results flow
ing from the labors of the SuperiD-
tendent as such, are incalculable.-
1t makes better teachers and 1t makes
better scholars.
1t is to be hoped, that when anoth
er school year will begin, the i'm
provements and reform suggested
will be put in operation by the Board
of Education. In order to do this IL
will be necessary to employ another
High School teacher. Our schools
would then advance as they never
heve. There would then be required
eight Primary, two Secondary, two
Grammar and two High School
teachers hesides the Superintendent.
One thing more. The branches
taught in the schools, at the present
time, require not only all the time OF
the scholar in the school room, but
he is obliged to study at home. His
mind is in a continual fcrment about
his lessons, and his whole nervous
system is worked up to almost a
white heat. The result is that moth
ing is well done, and everything is
poorly done.
Let the inscription on our school
banner be, hard ,oork in school, and
freedom out Of school.
Will our citizens and Board Of Ed
ucation act2 VIII they!
+. M.