The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-09-23
THE OHIO SCHOOL sYATEM--- WHO
ARE ITS FOUNDERS.

THE OHIO SCHOOL sYATEM--- WHO
ARE IT'S FOUNDERS.
The Ohio school system has grown
up with the progressive stages of the
state aetil it is now one of the best, il
not tho very best in this country ol
Europe. It began with the ordinance
of May 20, 1855, "for ascertaininE the
mode of the lands in the Western ter.
riteries." Ono Of the provisions ol
that "every thirty-sixth section shall
DO reserved for sale for maint telance Of
public schools within said township
Tho ordinance of 1881 provided that
ff''schools and means of education shall
forever be encouraged"
Tho early history of Ohio shows
that the people were iDbued with the
spirit of popular education. In 1921
an act was passed for the erection OF
school districts and the election OF
school eficers, and provided that the
county commissioners should levy tax
% for school purposes. The act OF
1926 was the frat uniform law on the
subject'and by it tho levies were in.
creased for school purposes. a
The acts of 1893, 1881 and 1884, in
creased the power of county commits
sioners to levy taxes for school pur-
poses and afferd increased facilities for
the Organization of conmen schools.
The act Of 1886, which was adopted
by Democratic Legislature, was the
frat general law that provided for lev
les by township trustees to keep up the
public schools. s IS a
The act Of 1888. also by . Democrat
&c Legislature, increased tho power OF
township trustees to make levies for
the purpose Of keeping up public
scheels, and addition to the local levy.
The act of 1887, by . Demo craft
Legislature, provided for the estab-
lishment of German and English
schools. @ -! fus
The act of 1859, by a Democratic
Legislature, was the first to recognize
the right Of colered children to be ed
ucated, and provided for the educa-
ton of the celered children Of the
state. 1t also made provisions for
teachers institutes the same year.
The constitution of 1851, framed by
. convention, the majority of ,chose
delegates ,cere Democrats, provides:
ARTICLE 6. SECTION L. The princi-
pal arising from the sale or other dis
position Of lands or other property,
granted or entrusted to the State for
educational and religious purposes,
shall forever be preserved inviolate
and undiminished, and the income
arising therefrom shall be faithfully
applied to the specific object of the
original grant or appropriation.
SEC. 2. The Legislature shall make
such provisions by taxation, or other
wise, as, with the increase arising from
The school trust fund, will secure a
thorough aud efficient system of COM
mon schools throughout the State, but
no religious or ether sect or sects shall
ever have any exclusive right to or
control of any part of the school fund
of this State.
These are the provisions of the pres
ent constitution of the State Of Ohio,
framed by convention the majority
of whose delegates were Democrats,
md adopted at an election where the
majority Of the notes.-the Democratic
ooting for the Consultation, and the
opposition voting against it. is
The act of 1853, for the establish
nent of common schools in Ohio, was
. revised embodiment of laws relating
% common schools, that had been
adopted previous to that date, ON
more liberal basis, under the foregoing
'ections Of tho constitution. 1t was
prepared and presented by Demo
cratic member of the General Assem-
bly,, and was adopted by Democratic
and, while it has been
and codified since that date.
t has preserved the same liberal out
Inc, the same syatem, the same sub
stance, and, generally, the same word
ng and sections as the Act of 1853
The Democratic Legislature of 1874
md 1875, were SO careful to guard the
interests of the common school and
Keep it up with the progress of the
Ige, and enforce more fully the pro-
'isions of the foregoing sections Of
he constitution, and preserve and
|ustain the present school system of
0hie, that they provided (section SO,
rol. y, page 50, laws of Ohio), that in
;ase Of the failure Of Boards of edu-
:ation to make the necessary levy 10
leep up the schools for six months.
hat each member of the board should
,e liable to penalty not exceeding
$50, nor less than $25, for neglect 10
make the proper levy, a aa
Thus when the Democratic conven-
ion Of June 18th, 1875, adopted the
ollowing resolution "We faver the |
complete separation OF church and |
tate, religious independence and alb
olute freedom of opinion. equal and
'xact justice to all religious societies
md purely secular education at the
Expense Of taxpayers without division |
mong or control of any sect, direct
= or indirectly, of any portion of the
chool fund. In view Of the admira-
lie provisions Of our state constitu-
ion upon these subjects, which are
ue to the energy and wisdom of the |
Democratic party, we denounce the