The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-02-15
The New School Bill.

The New School Bill.
Houss Bill 142, introduced by Hon. Geo:P.
Metcalf, Is to provide . Township Board of
Education, with full power to control and
manage the schools of the township.
The board Of education is TO consist Of one
member from each sub-district to be elected
by the voters of said district, including joint
sub-districts; provided that when township
has but. 1.-TWO sub-districts, Its board shall
consist of three members from each of said
districts.
The bill provides for the division Of the
board into three parts, one third of those nrst
elected to serve for one year, one-third for
two years, and the remaining third for three
years. Thereafter all members elected shall
serve three years.
Section $3.50 regulates the number of meet
ines, to be held, providing for one every two
months throughout the year. The board may
decide to hold meetings more frequently, but
not less frequently. +,
It further provides that all the schools in
each township shall be taught an equal
length of time each year, as nearly as possi-
BILE, without regard to the diversity OF the
number of pupils at the several schools, or
the cost of the schools.
The board must elect clerk who may, or
may not, be one OF their own number, and
shall ix his compensation. The record must
be signed by the president and clerk, and
shall be public record.
The board should establish a sufficient
number OF schools to provide for free educa-
ton OF the youth OF school age in the district,
at such places as viii be most convenient
for the attendance of such youth.
The board shall take charge Of all school
property. and of the public schools, and shall
employ teachers and fix salaries.
The principal features OF the bill have been
mentioned above. II this bill become law,
there win be- one school officer instead of
three In each sub district.
A few advantages win inevitably result
from the passage Of this act:
1t wiz abolish all conflicts between town.
ship boards and local directors, because the
entire management Of the schools win be in
| the hands OF one set of men, instead of two,
| as at present.
The new board will meet bi-monthly and
| will necessarily discuss the condition Of the
schools in their several districts. suggestions
win be made which will tend to benefit all the
| schools OF the township. The successful
teachers will thus be brought prominently
| before the board, and will be retained, while
those less successful viii be allowed to seek
| employment elsewhere.
One Of the most marked Improvements
| will arise from the more careful selection OF
teachers. The township board will doubtless
haYe 9 committee on teachers TO whom all
4 xrrn he ms de- in The
committee can make q record Of name and
address character Of certificate, character Of
experience, whether successful or not, gen.
ernl appearance, and impressions received by
the interview. At the meeting set for employ
ment OF teachers, these notes will be pro-
duced, and the board will select those whose
chances for successful work seem greatest.
Furthermore, they will assign the persons
employed with reference to the character of
the schools to be taught. Some of the schools
win be large and dificult to manage; some
will have pupils far advanced in work; others
viii be easy to manage, and the instruction
will need to be elementary. Thus the board
viii secure the best possible results in the
aggregate
Many boards adopt course Of study for
use In the schools of the township, but it is
carried out In but few. Under this act they
could place printed copy in the hands of
every teacher, and IN q few years the pupils
could be quite well graded, which would save
much time to the pupils, enabling then, to
make greater progress in . given time. This
would lead to q more thorough education of
all the children of the country, and would
| make more Intelligent and valuable citizens.
II would have tendency to crcaie desire
for higher education, which board or the
people would have In their power to give, by
directing that some Of the higher branches
be taught.in schools where desired. The
maxim of Ohio has been, and is, that the
property ofthe State should educate the chill
dren of the State" This has not been Ap-
piled to common branches alone, but in what
ever goes to constitute an education.
, Some thirty-hve years since the towns
adopted 4 plan similar TO that now proposed
for the country. Look at the results. There
Is not village In Ohio where the system has
been adopted that has not an excellent
school.
Other States have worked for years under
law similar to that proposed in this bill,
and have made much greater progress than
J has been made in this State under our no
!. system plan.
Ibelieve that should this measure become
law, the rural schools Of Ohio would improve
fifty to one hundred per cent within 1--WE
years. viii not those who favor this meas
ure write to our Representative and Senator
urging the them TO use their inhuenc for it,
passage3 II will certainly be an honor &c
Lorain county 10 baEe furnished the men
who shall secure the passage OF sa oct thai
wflI bring such incalculable good to the
commonwealth Of Ohio.
! Elyria, Ohio. Il. N. PARKER.