Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-03-04
THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS OFOHIO.
A SYMPOSIUM.

The deplerable condition of the public
schools in the country districts of Ohio,
as compared with these of adjoining
States, is a subject of the gravest mo-
Dent. The effect is seen in all parts of
the State. The population of the rural
districts is growing less and less every
year. The most intelligent of the peO-
pie who can sell or rent their farms are
moving into the towns and cities. Ev-
cry where but one reason is given. They
want educational advantages for their
growing families. Fine lands in the
best agricultural portions of Ohio COM
mand q lower price per acre than in any
other State of equal age and fertility
among the northern states. The reason
is found in the condition of the schools.
There are only two sections of very mar
row borders where the people have de-
terminsd to have some advantages in
spite of the laws which govern them.
The cause of this state of affairs is not
the want of teachers, nor wholly On &C.
count of incompetency, for many of the
most earnest men and women in the
State are to be found struggling for
mere pittance against obstacles they
cannot overcome, to conduct the schools
in such a manner as to secure good re-
suits.
| The people do not know that the
school can be made any better. They
are such schools as they attended, and
they honestly believe them to be good
enough for their children. Apathy is
the cause of this deplorable condition of
schools in the rural districts. The peo.
pie Of the country are very conservative
and will not give up the old until they
are convinced that the new is better;
bat when they are convinced they move
with irresistible force They cannot see
that the meager education of quarter
of century ago will not now meet the
demands of the age. Hence there is Op-
position to the necessary change in the
school law to remedy the present condi+
tion of school affairs.
The correction of the present inefi-
cheney of the schools can only be brought
about by judicious legislation. What
ought to be done is indicated by tie
school systems of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, etc,
etc. Each county should have about
the same organization as our city and
town systems. The townships should
be represented in county boards of edu-
cation as wards are represented in city
boards. This county board should have
charge of all the schools of the county
not controlled by special boards, and
should have all the powers and authOri-
ty of city boards, namely, to appoint a
superintendent, principals and teachers,
levy taxes, build school houses, make re-
pairs, determine the branches to be
taught, and ali other matters pertaining
to the Interests of education in each
county. Such an arrangement would fix
the responsibility of the success Of the
schools, save of the amount now injudi-
ciously expended, a sufficient amount to
provide for the continuane of the
schools in session at least nine months
of the year, pay better salaries, and
therefore secure more competent teach>
ers.
If sub-diStricts in townships were ad-
justed so that something like an equal
number of children could be placed in
the respective schools, the number of
schools in townships might be diminish
ed; hence a less number of teachers
would be required, and therefore less
expense. In this county there are
schools whose average attendance is not
moro than fifteen pupils. for whose
schooling the township board appropri,
ates as much money as to another school
whose average attendance is thirty live
pupils. If the money for the sub>dist-
rict having fifteen pupils was raised by
local taxation, there would be no cause
for complaint on the part of the SUBJ
district having So pupils, but this is not
the case; all are taxed for the support
| of the schools equally. This is so mani
festly unjust that the wonder is the hon.
est farmer does not see it.
1t is passing strange that when any
measure has come up in the General AS.
! sembly for the betterment of the condi-
e tien of the schools in the rural districts
the members from the country are the
! first and bitterest opponents.
lam very glad, Mr., Editor, you have