The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-04-19
Public Schools Of ohio.

From the Report OF the Commissioner Of
Public Schools in Ohio, for the yoar ending
August 81, 1866, which is a voluminous doc
ument bristling with facts aud figures, we
make few extracts of general interest!
,ut. CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
The returns of the past school year indi-
cate that the public schools of the State are
quite as prosperous AS at any former period,
| Indeed, in some particulars, encouraging
advances have been made.
The increase in tho receipts from local
levies for school and schoo.houso purposes,
the corresponding increase in the average
number of weeks schools have been sus
tanned, and the increased number of school
houses erected. are evidences of greater
interest and activity among school oilicers.
The total expenditures, during the past
year, have been over one halt u million of
dollars in excess of the expenditures of any
former year, and the local tax estlmutes of
the current year Indicate that the local au-
thorities are more generously sustained
| than heretofore, by tho property owners of
the State, and give assurance that achool
interests will not be materially embarrassed
for want OF funds, .,ts
The large number OF teachers institutes
held during the year, the number of teach.
ers and interested citizens in attendance
thereon, and the professional spirit mani
feBted, are encouraging proofs of the grad
ual recognition by the public of the impor
tance of the teachers profession.
Lesson OF TnE WAR.
| During the late war; this truth has been
but too painfully enforced that our educa
tional and other moral agencies have not
been competent to protect US from most
cslamtous social disorders. Our narrow
escapes from bloody discussions within our
own State borders, are not likely soon to
pass from memory. The "intellgepce Of the
Masses" the proudest boast Of American
statesmen, is no longer heard, either at
home or abroad. The confdenc of the peo,
| pie in each other has been most danger
ousy shaken, and tie fact is generally
recognized that the common schools are
among the most efficient instrumentalities
to restore that confidence. .N
That the school system of Ohio has not
hereto been worked TO half its prodc.
tive capacity has been urged, from year to
year, by school men but the fact is now
patent to all, that the results hitherto accom-.
plished have not been adequate to meet
epen the demands Of public safety.
|
! ful a school, is yst fresh In the memories Of
the people, and the evidence is everywhere
to be found that the time has never before
occurred when the public mind was 30 well
prepared TO receive hopefully, and to carry
into effect with energy and zeal, any addi.
tiona measures that may give promise to
make our school agencies more productive
Of good Results.
WHEREIN THE SYSTEM FAILS.
The report submits that the last standard
at which common school system should
aim is to secure the attainment by all sane
youth OF such knowledge of the six fun
damenta branches of common school ed.
ncation, viz: spelling, reading, writing,
geography. arithmetic aud English gram
mar, as will enable youth to transact the
ordinary business of life with readiness and
accuracy, aud in such mental discipline and
moral culture as is necessary and incident
to the acquisition Of this knowledge. En-.
I Iightened public opinion now demands that
to thcse branches be added the study OF
United States history aid the Federal Con.
stitution.
The question how much schooling is ne
cessary for average pupils to attain this
! knowledge is considered, and by compar.
ison Of this amount with the returns Of
school attendance for the year, the conolu-
sion is arrived at that 4" there has been ac.
complshed, during the past year. only
three. flths of the school work annually ne
cessary to secure TO the youth Of the State
the least amount OF school attainments
hitherto regarded as compatible with pub.
lie safety"
CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.
The reason OF this failure is thus stated :
1--WE expend nearly all our school revenues.
aud direct nearly all our energies to provide
school privileges while literally nothing
is done, except by voluntary effort, 10 cause
I the youth Of tho State to avail themselves
Of the privileges offered. Our school sys.
TEN is destitute, not only of all agencies, the
special objects of which are to induce school
goiag, but also of nearly all appliances, TO
render tho instruction and discipline Of the
schools more valuable to the pupils who
do attend them"
9ti THE REMEDY.
"Let the State apply all available incen-
tiVes to schooLgoing, and there will be but
little need Of laws for compulsory attend