The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-04-03
Supervision.

Supervision.
l may be considered selfimportant
Furthermore, it may be said. that with an
air of presumption, have assumed the
mien of dictation. Or it may be affirmed,
that seek newspaper notoriety. New
ertheless, SO long as l am actuated by a
feeling of right and desire to accomplish
a good end. 1 shall not be particular
with reference to the opinions of others
have observed Mr.. Editor in the late
issues of your paper, an article setting
forth in awful language the deeply de-
plorable condition of Ohio's Ungraded
Schools as well as the terrible results that
has characterized the system for many
years. And not only these obvious facts,
but finally the inevitable and direful con-
sequences. in substance at least, that shall
befall us people, unless we ultimately
adopt system of County Superintendent
cy believe Mr.. Editor, that my inter-
ests in the general welfare Of our people
and state and the prosperity of its educa-
tional institutions, are as heartfelt as
those of any of my worthy fellow labor
ers Especially are the interests of my
native state, my interests. and especially
and particularly will labor for the prop
agation of its institutions. Therefore it
Is, that enter my protest, and not only
my own, but the remonstrances of many
of my CO workers and warm friends of
education, against the proposition, to re-
model, rebuild, or retrench the ungraded
school system of Ohio, by substituting
that of County Supervision
The object of the above mentioned ar
ticle, seems to be, to depict in glowing
colors, before the eyes of our Legislators
the idea, that this great reformation
which they proposed is demand of the
whole people; an urgent, earnest entreaty
to take pity upon our degraded condition,
and by acts of legislation, lift US above
the unhealthy atmosphere, that we may
be invigorated and stimulated by the
congeniality of purer system. But my
friends it is not universal demand
There are multitudes of as good people,
who are as much interested in their
children's welfare and education, and
who are as competent to judge of the
merits and defects of the proposed new
system, as any one else that stands oppos
ed to its introduction.
Parties whose memories are not at
fault, will remember very distinctly that
at our late Jackson County Institute,
there existed, and was publicly manifest
ed determined element of opposition to
Supervision, for the reason that it could
not better the present method of conduc-
ting ungraded schools, and furthermore,
being creative of new offices and addi
tlonal unnecessary expense, was therefore
an imprudent step and an imposition on
the tax-burdened people of our country
l also observed, few days since, in one
of the Portsmouth Journals, the fact that
meeting of Township Institute in
Scioto county, resolution was passed
without dissenting voice, to the effect
that County Supervision was both i'm
practical and unnecessarily expensive.
Besides, the testimony of many who
know something of the workings of the
method from experience, prove conclu-
sively, that it is not the system that its
supporters would have us believe that
its machinery, its workings are defective,
and that its wants are as obvious and even
more SO than those of the present system
l was talking not long since to gentle
man, who had the extreme pleasure (2
only last year, of teaching in one of the
states where this method of Superintend
ency had been adopted some time before.
And by the way he is a man of sound
judgment and discretion and moreover
an opponent of ofSupervision. Said he, 81
was visited once by the Superintendent
in the course of my teaching He re-
mained in my room about thirty minutes,
making sometime before leaving, one
single suggestion, asking no questions or
giving any advice. 1t was even manifest
to the pupils, that his business was moth
ing in particular, which seems suggestive
from the remark of one tall urchin,
whose moral training seems to have been
somewhat neglected, and you will here
no rHn hn L IL L
see what the devil that feller's good fur.
He was here once afore and acted list
like that ere p
Supervision is not the hobby of the
whole people. But because its opponents
are not organized and publicly harangu-
ing the people, many are led to suppose
that it is popular with the mass, and
therefore should be introduced.
And again we are ridiculed because we
talk about expense. Our reasoning is
said to be illogical, mere sophistry, and
therefore should not be tolerated. Let
US see. First we claim that our present
system, although not perfect, is in ad-
vance of the new proposed. That it is
better in most respects and that in a
comparison of results, it assumes the
lead. standing foremost and highest,
hence is capable of promoting to great
er degree the educational and intellectual
welfare of our children. Says E. D.
Mansfield in the Centennial Report of
Ohio, the state which was in the heart
of the wilderness of l776 now presents to
the world not merely an unrivaled devel-
opment of material prosperity, but an
unsurpassed system of popular educa-
tion." Again he states. "as broad gen.
eral fact, that Ohio has made more pro
gress in education than any Of the older
states which formed the American I'm,
ion." And yet he further says, that
Ohio is the irst state in the Union as to
the proportion of youth attending
school" giving statistical figures to prove
the assertion. Therefore it is, that when
a change can not better or improve a
method, it is certainly reasonable and
rational to conclude that the expense in
Cured by such proceedings is not only
,LniLsk to the naonla but an act exhibiting