The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-05-18
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
The Country Schools CT Chile.
A SYMPOSIUM.

The deplorahle condition OF the pub
lie schools in the country districts Of
Ohio, ss compared with those Of adioiu.
ing States, is snt1ect OF the gravest
moment. The effect is seen In oil parts
of the State. The population OF The ru.
rsl districts is growing less and less
every year. The most Intelligent OF the
people who can sell or rent their farms
are moving Tito the towns and cities.
Everywhere hut one reason ia given.
They want educational advantages for
their growing families. Fine lands in
the best agricultural portions OF Ohio
command 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 uar.
row borders where the people have de-
termined to have some advantages in
spite OF tue 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 q
mere piitsnce against obstacles they can.
not overcome, TO conduct the schools in
such manner as to secure good results.
The people do not know that the
school can be made any better. They
are such schools IS. 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 people
OF the country are very conservative and
will not give up the old until they are
convinced that the new 10 better: but
when they. are convinced they move with
irresistible force. They cannot see that
the meager education OF quarter of q
century ago will not now meet the de-
mands OF the age. Hence there ia on.
position to the necessary change in the
school law to remedy the present condi-
tion Of school affairs.
The correction of the present inc
cheney OF the schools can only be brought
about by judicious legislation. What
ought 10 be done is indicated by the
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 rep.
resented in county boards of education
as wards are represented in city boards.
This county board should have charge
OF all the schools of the county not con.
trolled by special boarda, and should
have sll the powers and authority OF city
boards, namely, to appoint superinten-
dent, principals and teachers. levy taxes,
build school houses, make repairs, deter.
mine the branches to be taught, and all
other mattera pertaining to the interests
OF education in each county. Such Gu
arrangement wovld fix the responsibility
OF the success OF the schools, save OF
the amount now injudiciouslv expended,
sufficient amount to provide for the
continuance of the schools in session at
least nine months OF the year, pay better
salaries, and therefore secure more COM
petent teachers.
If sub-districts in townships we're adj.
justed 80 that something like an equal
Number OF children could he placed In
the respective schools, the number OF
schools in townships might be diminisn-
ed; hence less number of teachers
would be required, and therefore less ex-
pense. In this county there are schools
whose average attendance is not more
than fifteen pupils, for whose schooling
the township board apprcpristes as much
money as to another school whose aver
age attendance is thirty-fve pupils. II
the money for The sub-distric,s having
fifteen pupils was raised by local taxa
ton, there would be no cause for com.
rlaint on the part oi the sub district hav-
ing 35 pupils, but this is not the case all
are tsxed for the support Of the schools
equally. This is 30 manifestly unjust
that the wonder ia the honest farmer
does not see it.
1t is passing strange that when any
measure has come up in the General As
senbly for the betterment OF the condi.
lion OF the schools in the rural districts,
the members from the country are The
first and bitterest opponents.
! am verv glad, Mr. Editor, you have
proposed this subject for discussion, and
hope i! will do good.
R. W. STEVENSON.
Columbus, Ohio.