The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-02-07
THE ooMmoN SCHOOLS OF OHIO.

THE COMMON SCHOOLS OF OHIO
2 Hon. Charles S.Smart has Submit
ed his report as Commissioners of
Common Schools to the Governor.
He speaks of the habit Of indiscrim-
mate praise which has heretofore been
bestowed on public schools, their off.
GERS, teachers and everyone connected
with them, until the public have been
led to bslieye that they are as near per-
feet as can be. The present report is
an exception nor does Commissioner
Smart 20 into fulsome and overdrawn
eulogy on the schools, as has been the
habit too long with all school officers,
from those of a township to the well
paid and sleek officials who fatten on
exofbitant salaries, as is the case in
many other places. '+st7
The following statistics are gathered
from the tables given with the report
Pupils of school age.in Ohio, i ,O25, ,735
school districts, 1879; sub-districts.
lO,72l 8 school-houses in townships,
O,744 school. houses in other districts,
LTD; school-houses erected within the
year, 400; cost of the same, $8O3, LAG
total estimated value Of school-houses
and grounds, $21,146,127; number OF
teachers necessary to supply the
schools, 15,711; average number oi
weeks session, 81 number of pupils
enrolled. 722, ,24O; average daily at.
tendance, AS, 100; total receipts and
balance for laat year, $1l, ,632, 1885
expenditures, S., ,O36. .62O. 50; balance on
hand September l, 1877, $3596. .S3l .O3.
The Commissioner further on In his
report turns again to the fact that the
schools and everything connected with
them have been invested with such a
rosy hue that the imperfections have
been entirely overlook ed or covered up
by incapable officials. 1t is not strange
then that the average legislator should
regard the schools as perfect when
every one connected with them is con.
stantly DINING into his ears eulogie.
as to the perfection of the, overpaid
oficiale.
Yet the fact remains that eight and
half millions dollars are yearly ex.
pended on the schools aud 1900 peo.
pie find employment ss laborers in
teaching, which should be matter OF
sufficient Importance to the taxpayer
to give more attention to the deficien-
cies and apend less time in stupid self
glorification and praise over what the
men who get the large salaries would
have us believe has already been ac-
complished. .,,.... .....-s..
Mr.. Smart holds that incompetent
inscriptions or self aggrandizing su.
pervision of the schools is an extrava-
gance and an evil more dangerous to
the growth and prosperity of the
schools than the combined antagon-
ism OF factions or sects. He condemns
the trading of positions the cooking
up of deceptive reports and the sale
of official influence. R'
The vexed text book question is TAX
en- up in the report. Tue plan of the
State taking control in some way OF
the publication of text books is advo-
Gated. The present price charged is,
in the opinion of the Commissioners,
extortionate, and he who excuses the
overcharges in their sales is an enemy
to the schools. A spelling book may
be made to fairly cost the pupil from
sixteen to twenty cents, when in fact
one equally as good and yielding a
fair return to the makers and sellers
can eiplaced on the market for from
three to five cents a copy. The same
holds true with every book used in
the schools. The position is taken
that grade of inexpensive and service.
able books should be printed and cold
side by side with the high priced ones,
so that pupils might take their choice
as to prices. ' -"i''''
The inordinately large number of
text books whicA pupils are compelled
to buy Is also condensed in detail.
The entire report covers 242 pages,
and contains, in addition to the topics
already noted, report from the State
Board of Examiners, and a report
from those having charge of the
Ohio School Exhibit at Philadelphia.
The report, as a whole, contains many
original and well digestcd facts and
suggestions, and will be more widely
discussed and criticised than any sim
liar report issued from the same Office
for many years past.