Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-01-08
Your attention is especially invited
to the following subjects:
l. Normal instruction.

,. County superintendency.
). Township organization as a mod
ificatiOn Of the district system.
have mentioned normal instrue
o ton first for the reason that I believe
it to be the most important. We can,
not have good schools without good
g teachers, and we cannot have compe.
J, tent teachers unless they are properly
e instructed in their duties. County
S SUPPLEMENTARY might, and undoubt-
edly would, somewhat assist, but the
fact is, the lack of competent ~superin-
tendents is quite as great as the scare
: ity of good teachers. We want nor
] NAL schools to instruct both, and such
schools the State ought to supply
B Until we have them, a large portion
2 of the enormous sums expended for
educational purposes, will be thrown
away. 1t is undoubtedly true that the
schools in our large towns and cities
compare favorably with those of 9TH
: er States, but even these ought to be
improved. 1t is certainly true that
: our country schools are inferior in
many respects. An effort should be
: made to elevate the standard of these
schools, so that all the children of our
State may enjoy equal advantages. 1t
should be a subject of inquiry, as to
what constitutes the difference be-
tween the city and the country
schools, and there should be such leg
J i~slation as will give the greatest pos
sible advantage to the greatest num-
be of our youth. In my judgment,
our first necessity is normal schools,
permanently located, created, sup
ported and regulated by the State I;
these, for the present at least, to be
supplemented with normal instruc-
ton upon the institute system, reach
ing into every county, and under the
control of aState Board. Reasonable
expense, incurred in promoting the
intelligence of the people. will be
found judiciOus and economical. Com
mon school education is the basis of
our prosperity, and it should be made
as complete and excellent as possible.
I have no doubt that with normal
schools to educate teachers and super
intendents, we should reap from the
money now expended double the ben
eft we at present enjoy. Until we
have such institutions u schools
will always be i~nferiorioT. I respect
fully urge this subject upon your at
tention, and take pleasure in referring
to the very ab e report of the State
School Commissioner, which will soon
be laid before you.
OHIO AND MIAMI UNIVERSITIES.
The Ohio and Miami Universities, |
at Athens and Oxford, are now in a
very feeble condition, and unless
something is speedily done for them
by the State their doors must sOon be
closed While considering the ne
cessity for establishing normal
schools, it has occurred to me
as possible that one or both of these
institutions might be made available
for that purpose. At a joint meeting
Of the alumni and trustees of the Ohio
University, held last July, a rsolu-
lion was passed requesting the Gene
raj Assembly to consider the prOprie-
ty of adding a normal department, to
be supported by the State. Possibly
the funds of these two universities
mighted be united, so as to afford sup
port for one, while the other could BE
made a normal school, supported by
the State entirely. At all events,
these Institutions must have immedi-
ate and substantial assistance or they
will die, and that Tery soon.
The Agricultural College will at no
distant day, be ready for the admission
of students. Generous provision has
heretofore been made for it, but the
fostering care of the State, whose
child it is, will be required for some
years to come. 1t is expected that the
State will extend the same liberality
to this that she does to her charitable
Institutions. The Agricultural and
Mechanical College should be some
thing more than a model farm, illus
trating the art of oultiYating the soil,
and the methods of improving breeds
of stock. If this shall be the limit of
its ambition, few young men will re
sort to it, and these, it is feared, with
out great profit. Its foundations should
be laid broad and deep, and within its
walls should be taught the principles
which underlie all the industrial, lib
eral and ornamental 6rts. Its currie-
ulum should be so extended that
young men may there be educated for
all the ordinary walks of life. If it
shall be dedicated under a generous !
system, and conducted in the right
way, it will soon attract donations
from liberal and public-spirited men
will be an honor to Ohio and a bless
ing to oar people. If we ix 8 low
standard, and are content with small
results, il were better that the peo- ,
pies money were expended in some
other and more profitable way. 1t is
not, of course, expected that the Col
lege shall be, when it opens, all that
we hope for it finally; it is not likely
that all its departments will at once
be put in successful operation. But
let it be started with intention of ms.
king it, ultimately, a grand State uni
versity, whose instructions shall be
thorough and comprehensive.
INSANE ASYLUMs.
There exists a very pressing and
urgent necessity that immediate pro.
vision be made for the confinement
and care of our insane people. With
In a little more than four years two Of
the State asylums have been DESTROYED
by fire. The new building at Athens
will not be ready for the reception of
patients before September or October
of this year, and the one at Columbus
not before two years from this time. {
The central portion of the Newburg
asylum must be rebuilt, and the wings |
covered with q new roof. The work }
will occupy at least ons year. In the
meantime, we have in the State to-day
insane persons enough to fill all these
institutions when completed, and four
hundred in excess. Many of these
unfortunate men and women are now
confined in jails, inirmaries and work
houses, or are receiving such made
quate care as it is possible for friends
to bestOE at their own homes. Come
immediate relief must be afforded, or
there will be great suffering. 1t has
been found impossible to secure for
temporary occupation and use any
building which was regarded as suita-
bic and safe. The only one offered
for rent, was the Neff House, at Yell
low Springs, which, with an outlay of
twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars
exclusive of the cost of furniture
could be made ready for the accom-
mediation of four hundred and TWEEN
ty- five patients. This property is of
fered for rent, upon a five years lease,
for fifteen thousand dollars per an {
mum. 1t could, undoubtedly, be OBJ
tanned at a much less price. But it is {
a frame structure, designed for a sum-
mer hotel, and it would; as I think, ;
be exceedingly hazardous, to fill with {
demented persons, many of whom !
have already had the experience OF
two fires, and whose erazed minds are
filed with avid glee at thought of the
excitement attendant upon q great
conflagration. In the light of past ex- :
il is u~nnardOnabIa if fha in :