The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-05-21
JACKSON COUNTY.


Schools, page lS9;
JACKSON COUNTY.
The schools of this county are in O
fair condition and there seems to be
desire on the part of both parents and
teachers to make them excel. Through
the efforts of our school examiners our
schools are generally supplied with COM
petent and live teachers. School boards
manifest an interest in the comfort and
welfare of the pupils. Substantial school
houses are to be found in nearly all Of
the sub-districts.
Under the provisions of the school
law of last winter, boards of education
will be enabled to relieve themselves
from the embarrassment created by want
of funds; and that they have availed
themselves of the provisions of the law
is evident from the rates of school levies.
If the youth of our county are diligent
in the pursuit of knowledge, ample pro-
visions are made for them all to procure
good common school education. But
unfortunately, after all the efforts made
in their behalf, and money expended for
their benefit, too many parents and chill
dren manifest little or no disposition to
profit by the opportunities within their
reach. j. K. BOOTH,
Auditor.
The educational progress of our county
during the past year is manifest, and for
the better. Many of our teachers are
striving for self-improvement, and are
making very respectable advancement.
Since they have ascertained that certif-
Gates from other examiners, recommen-
dations signed by one another, by rela-
tives and by local directors, feigned
headache, and all similar articles and
make-shifts avail nothing. and that they
can obtain certificates only upon their
merits after a careful examination on
the regular days appointed for that
purpose, we have fewer applicants, and
they are better qualified.
We are deeply impressed with the fact
that many of our teachers are sadly de-
fcient in ganeral information, Their
range of thought seems to the very rudi-
ments of the elementary branches which
they are required to teach, while the
great field of general knowledge is to
them an unexplored country a trackless
region, which they have no inclination
to travel or investigate. We insist that
teachers ought to know very much more
than the law requires, or than they are
expected to teach, and it is a sad com
mentary on our educational status that
of many things with which every intelli
gent person should be familiar, many oi
our teachers seem to have nothing more
than the most vague and indefinite ideas.
The most effectual means and agencies
for the improvement of our common
schools are normal schools, teachers in.
stitutes, and county superintendents.
We need all these, and the last is the
most important of all young man
expecting to excel in his profession OF
teaching should have (D good, solid
liberal education; (2) course of profes
sional training in a normal school; (3)
opportunities of meeting his fellow
teachers in q teachers institute; (4) a
recognized bureau or department to
which he should make reports, and to
which he might appeal for aid or advice.
The legislature has codified the school
laws, and slightly amended them for
the better, but has, we think most un-
wisely, retained the disorganizing ele-
ments of local directors and sub-districts.
Had we the township system, and a
county supervision, we might expect bet
ter teachers and better schools.
The people themselves are not always
blameless. in some places the insane de-
sire to cram and crowd seems to be the
predominating feature. Pupils are hur-
ried on from one thing to another with
such rapidity that they can only skim as
they go. They drink surface water, and
are never RECALLED with the cool, invigor-
ating draught from the bottom of the
we'll Our children leave school too
young We require too much of them
in too short a time. This hurrying pro-
cess is fatal to all solid education, and is
often practiced at the behest of parents,
in their foolish anxiety to make an ex-
hibit of the precocity of their children
At an early age, reading and spelling are
soon denominated vulgar, and are lost
sight of, and the common branches,
which must always be the foundation OF
all thorough education, are, long before
they are nalf learned, subordinated to q
smattering of "ologies" that belong to
the colleges and the universities. We
believe in, nay we plead for, the highest,
the most liberal education,:s but we do not
want our educational editice built in the
sand, or on stills, but on the rock.
We need, first, more enlightened
public opinion This will produce the
requisite legislation, and the result will
be better teachers, better schools, and a
more intelligent people,
j. w. LoNGBoN,
Clerk of Board of Examiners.