The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-07-12
Communicated

EBiT0R JOURNAL: The sentiments aud acts Of
public officers are the proper and legitimate sub
eets of inyestg alton anl criticism through tho col
uu,as of public Journal, but snch investigation
aud criticism should be coudlc,el in proper
attention to some of the doIngs of our Board OF
Education," and it is hoped in such a manner as
will not give Just cause of olfense to any one.
At the annual school meeting, in 1866, the Board
of Education recommended the enlargement OF our
schoo-room capacity, and the repair of the present
building. They had no plan of contemplated en-
largement nor estimate Of probable cost, but sup
posed the latter would range from three to four
thousand dollars. At their suggestion the tax
payers oil the District, voted levy upon them
selves sufficient, as was there stated, to all
probable expense, and which, has been oheerfully
paid.
After the levy, an architect of Toledo en-
ployed to make plan Of the proposed improve
ment, and for which plan or draft, the Board paid
him 5000. 1t is believed one Of our own mechan-
les would have drawn plan equally MS satsfac-
tory and useful for $40. The Architects esti-
innate of the cost of tue improvement, as
planned by himself, is $1,000, but several cf our
be done for less than $4,000 to $4,000. This dis
crepaucy between the guess of the Board and the
estialatc of the arcitect, led the former to ask ,
at the recent school meeting, another levy for
building purposes, and levy of Is mills, on the
dollar valuation, was accordingly made Two
and probably three other evies, of equal amount,
will have to be imposed to pay the cost of making
the contemplated improvement as now planned.
Had our citizens been aware, that they were to
be burthened with this truly onerous tax, during
four, and perhaps five years, it is presumed they
would not have voted the first levy. But it is be-
lieved that much of the burthen may yet be avoided
and at the same time, the interests Of the District
better promoted, than by carrying into execution
present Intentions.
Intelligent and observant teachers discovered
several years since, that it was neither profitable,
or otherwise desirable, to have many pupils con-
gregated in and about single building. Where
large numbers are crowded into small spaces,
more incidents will transpire to attract attention
and divert the thoughts from study and contem-
plation. More collisions will occur calculated to
arouse the stormier passions, and to impress upon
the moral being an unfortunate inclination.
Proper discipline, and due subOrdiuatiOn more
difficult to be secured and maintained.
Acting upon these recognized and established
facts the best teachers of State, have, during
several years past, been scattering their schools,
instead of l1ssing their pupils. Mr.. NJ. +. Cow
classified school SYSTEM and standing at the head
and front Of our teachers aud educators, and who
has been Superintendent OF the Sandusky classified
schools, with the exception Of few months, since
their organization, has scattered bis schools
throughout the city, having in no instance more
than two, and generally but one school-room in a
building. The Sandusky schools. are regarded as
the model and most efficeint in and Of the State.
The Schools of Dayton, Columbus, Circleyile,
| Cleveland, Toledo, &C., are scattered, and in no
instance, is it believed, does the central building
contain more than two schools, and at CleVe-
land only one. This thought might be farther
! pursued, bat want Of room in your paper forbids.
! In view of the foregoing facts and considerations
would it not be advisable for the parties having
the matter in charge to review tue ground and as
certain il it would not be better to erect two smaller
buildings, one in the upper and one in the lower
part of town, stead Of raising the old building
story, and 0nnexng a large addition thereto
Tho writer cannot, at this time, discuss the suPe-
rior advantages Of the two buildings over the one
large addition. They would propaby cost from
81 800 to so 900 each, and thereby $4,000 to $4,000
would be saved to the taxpayers, and they at the
same time, better accommodated.
INQUIRER.