Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-12-06
Townshin sohoor nistr,ots.

Like the Adair liquor law--tho principle foa-
lures Of which are being adopted by neaply oil
the States in the Union,--the School law OF
Ohio, adopted 10 1883, has been one of the foa-
lures Of our stats that has been pointed to with
pride. 1t hss "duno tho State some SERVICE"
and a good service at that but like almost
every law that has been in, .orcs that length OF
time. With. amendments made from time to time,
Il needs oJdifying, leaving out all super fluffy,
aud amended to suis ths present wants OF our
people. For this purpose Representative TLTr,
chairman OF the Committee on Common Schools,
introduced a bill last winter "for the rsorgani-
paton and maintenance Of eomtson schools"
which failed 10 pass al that session, but will
come before the spprosohing session Of that
body. The Cincinnati Gassi.s, being esnvsrssut
with the provisions Of the bill, says II "was
drawn up with care and judgement, and in
many details would be an improvement on the
| present law" and eummsnts as follows upon
the merits Of the bill aud tho evils arising under
the present system
"The bill makes, hswevsr, one great mistake.
| Il psrpetuatss tho sub districts which have con-
stituted the greatest evil OF the present common
school system Of Ohio. Since 1888, outside OF
cities and largo towns, the township has been
recognized as the school district. The township
Board of Education has had the most imp ortant
functions, supervising snd controlling, in many
respects, the sub-districts. Upon an average
each township in Ohio IS divided into eight sub
school districts. Each sub-district elscts three
Directors. These choose one OF their number as
clerk, and these clerks constitute the township
or true Board OF Educa ion.
This Board may prescribe rules Tor the schools
Of tho whole distri,t, appoint one Of their msni-
bers gtne.al manager, and dstsrmins the text
books to he used by the children.
They may change the sub districts, locate
new schuel-houses levy taxes for building them,
and spportion the school moneys. But the local
Directors employ and dismiss teachers, and
m Ike the contracts for building, and all other
expenditures. OF course, between these two
powers there must be constant conflict. For
nearly twenty years the State Commissioners
have deToted large part Of their labors to tue
settlement Of the disputes that have arisen all
over the State between Boards Of Education and
the local Directors. Many times the quarrsls
have been carried into the courts. The energies
uf school officers, which ought to have been de-
voted 20 the improvement OF schools, have bsen
wasted in wars which this Dangling system max %
inevitable. Commissioners have recommended
the township system. Tho Ohio Teachers As
snciation have repeatedly pronounced against
the sub districts. The intelgsuo OF the State
is opposed to them. Let them be abolished,
The sub-diStricts are essentially wrong 10
principle. The intelligence and public spiri,
needed in a school board ia not evenly divided
among all the little neighborhoods OF tow nship.
No township is so large but that the gsod men -
those who are At to manage school aiairs-ars
known by all the citizens. Let the votes Of the
whole township make the elections let their sg-
greEate intelligence have a chance to choose the
It q. ktrta k,,.. auA
ought not to be controlled, as II frequently is
now, BY family considerations or petty spite or
jeslousiSs.
In the bill, as nrst introduced BY Mr. TAFT,
the needed reform was partly provided for By
reducing the number Of local Directors and in
creasing the powers of Boards Of EducSiion
but in the amended bill even this much is Eur-
rendered. This surrender was owing to the op-
position Of the county members. The little
rings, that grow a. fAst iu the country a. in the
city, sent mp cry. Representatives took warn
log, and this important provision was struck out
Of the bill. At the approaching session, wh'n
the measure comes to be acted upon, let the
| township system be adapted. This i'll do
more to advance the interests OF the common
schools of Ohio than the adoption Of all the
rest OF the proposed law"
From past experience wih the present
law in this vicinity the above furnishes food
for reflection of every ons interested in our
school system-and who is not? What are the
views Of our representative, and what are the
views of the people on this subiect7