The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-04-03
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.

UNWhADED SCHUULSs
A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THEIR PREsEN
CONDITION, AND AN OUTLINE OF sue
LEGISLATION AS IS NEEDED TO EFFEC
sALUTARY REFORMS IN THEIR ADMINS
TRATIoN.
| Prepared and published by order Of the Ungraded
School Section Of the Ohio State Teachers As
sOciatiOn.
[ Continued
The continuance of the sub-dis
trict system is preiudicial to the in
terests of the schools and greatly in
creases the cost of their mainten
ance- The system multiplies the
number of schools unnecessarily
prevents efficient classification o
pupils, and leads to a disastrous
mode Of selecting teachers. Those
who have given most attention tC
the subject of school organization
in country districts, do not hesitate
to say that the consolidation of sub
districts could be effected without
putting pupils to greater labors II
order to reach the school house than
they are now compelled to undergo
Such consolidation would result in
a great saving of school funds, while
its effect upon the classification Of
pupils and their progress in their
studies would be most marked and
satisfactory.
The sub-district system stands in
the way of a more equitable and
more economical adjustment OF
school boundaries, At present the
school enrolment of a township is
very unequally divided among the
sub-districts, There is a limit to the
number of pupils that can be well
taught by a single teacher, but that
limit. is reached in but few of our sub
district schools. On the contrary, in
stances are abundant where the time
of a teacher for a whole term of three
months was spent in teaching from
two to five pupils. In such cases
the cost of these pupils schooling
was more than enough to pay their
tuition in one Of our best appointed
high schools.
President Hinsdale, of Hiram Col
lege, gives some facts in relation to
the cost of schools in Aurora town
ship, Portage county, which no doubt
have their counterparts in many
townships of Ohio. Here are the
figures:
SCHOOLS, 7 enumerated scholars,
191; enrolled scholars, 1O3 aver
age daily attendance, Il; total school
expenditure, S1,855.53; average size
Of school, based on average daily at
tendance, 10 II; average cost per
school, S265 OF average cost per
pupil, based on average daily at
tendance, S26 O6. The smallest
in any district was II,
the largest 65 the smallest enroll
ment 8, the largest 81 the smallest
average attendance 3, thelargest 25;
the smallest cost per pupil, S18.56,
The largest, S42 &C.
It is no exaggeration to say, taking
The whole State into consideration,
that a wise consolidation of sub-dis-
5ricts would result in the abandon
nent of one school in each town
ship, or I,347 schools in the State
Estimate the salary of each teacher
1t $50 per month for six months,
5he time required by law for the
schools to be kept in session each
gear, and an annual saving of S242,-
$50 is at once Effected. This is the
saving on the expenditure for teach
ng alone The amount received
rom the abandoned site and school
house could be proftably used in
the school accommoda-
ions ofthe township. r. W. Steven
son, of Columbus, says:
"Some years ago I undertook to
,edistrict one of the counties of this
State. I found in some districts as
'ew as two pupils, in others as many
Is eighty; and by redistricting Il
'ound I could so combine them that
40 pupils had more than two miles
70 walk to school, and so that each
school had not more than forty pu-
oils, pay the teachers of the county
sixty dollars instead of forty per
month, and save the county annual
Y eight thousand dollars"
It is believed that placing the
schools Of a township under the con
:rol of one board would effect a rad
cal reform in the method of select
ug teachers. Now, the want of sys
5em in discharging this important
luty is productive of much evil A
perhaps without a certif
,ate, is frequently employed by some
n mber of the sub-distTict board,
consultation with bis fellow
and the teacher so ap-
upon going to the school
louse to begin labor, not infrtquent
y finds some appointee of another
member of the board installed be
lind the teachers desk This is not
IN overdrawn statement Three
eachers have appeared at the dis
rict schoolroom on the same day,
ZACH claiming to be the duly appoint
ID person to take charge of the
ichool. Compromises, which are
,ften alike detrimental to the inter
.sts of the schools and expensive to
AK payers, follow.
Some of the duties imposed upon
boards of directors by
he school law are rarely fulfilled.
Records of proceedings are not kept,
.hanges of t acbers are frequent, the
chool enumeration is as ofttn gu=s5
ID at as careful ly taken, and in many
,ther respects total lack Of system
md indifference to the plainest pro
yisions of the law are noticeable. \
Ownship board, organized under the
of the law now applicable
o city and village districts, would
system in all the schools
# the township. Constellation of
districts, where such consolidation
would work no injustice to school
jatrons; teachers employed for a