Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-03-18
THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS OFOHIO
A SYMPOSIUM.
Ohio Educational Monthly.

in Lorain county. A few schools are
taught by experienced teachers who re-
main in the same district several terms.
In such schools good work is done. But
these are exceptions to the rule.
Many sub-dietricts have but few pu-
pills. The directors do not think it he
cessary to pay a large salary to teachi
er who has from ONE to TEN children al
school. They engage a teacher for the
lowest salary possible, without reference
to her experience or to the kind of Ger
tiacate she holds. The directors in an
adjoining district think they ought to
secure teacher for as small a sum as
their Dsigsbors, and they engage teach
er at low salary, although their school
is much larger. This course has tendeH-
cy to place young and inefficient persons
in charge of oar schools. This results il
a want of interest on the part of the pu-
pills, and little good is accomplished.
One serious difficulty, then, is the fall
ing off in population in the rural dis
tricts of Northern Ohio. l know one
school where the teacher had but one
pupil for many days last summer, and
that pupil was her little sister, who was
scarcely six years old. The one way to
obvlate this is by consolidation of sub
districts. This is open to the objection
that pupils would then have too far to
walk. Were the schools of township
all located in the center of the township,
and some means provided for gathering
the children and taking them to school
in the morning, and taking them home
in the evening, there would be a wOuder-
full improvement in the schools, and a
great saving of money.
The schools of every township need a
regular course of study, and board OF
education alive to the interests of the
schools, elected from the township al
at large, or one member from each sub.
district, which shall have the power t.
conduct the schools without reference t.
any other body of men.
Such board of education would en-
ploy better teachers, keep them longer,
and assign them with reference to the
condition of the school and experience
of the teacher This beard would also
avail themselves of the privilege of en-
plOying superintendent to see that
the plans for the improvement of the
schools are executed.
Perhaps the most imperative need of
these schools is thorough awakening
on the part of tie citizens to the impor-
tant fact that their children are receiv.
ing educational training far inferior to
that which might be furnished for less
money, under single headed system, in
place of the present double-headed, OF
Do-headed system of the rural schools.
Elyria, Ohio. II. Nj. PARKER.
THE following truths relative to
schools seem to have been clearly dem
enstrated:
|. Schools do the most and best work
under skilled supervision.
IL AS in large manufactures super
vision is necessary to systematic work
and to distribute responsibility, SO in
school work there should be some head
to direct, to test, to plan, to place re-
sponsibility, and to hold responsible.
III. States which have county super
vision show US the fruit thereof in
schools pursuing the same course Of
study, uniformity in text books, and a
feeling of responsibility for faithful
service on the part of teachers. To this
may be added the fact that essential
school appliances are found in schools
without supervision are carried on
through the year with the discomfort OF
cold, with poor ventilation, and an utter
lack of useful appliances, such as maps.
black boards, dictionaries, and many oth+
er minor appliances that should be in
every well regulated school.
". 4 township supervisor of schools
comes into closer contact with teachers
and schools than county supervisor,
and consequently, can make himself felt
more than one who can visit but sell
dom. In every township there are ex
cellent teachers who are qualified to su-
perintend. The best teacher in a town
ship can carry on his own school, and al
the same time mould all the other
schools up to his own standard. Give
him such authority, and his fellow
teachers will feel under obligation to
act in accordance with his views and
plans. He can thus grade his schools,
and unity and systematic. until they
compare well, in all essential features,
with the graded schools of large towns.
The township supervisors can meet
from time to time, and agree upon a
system to be adopted throughout the
county, and thus the most healthful
county supervision can be established
and maintained.
It is my belief that the rural schools
of Ohio would be benefited more by
township supervision than by anything
else that could be secured to them
through legislation.
A skilled miner for mines; a skilled |
machinist for the shops; a skilled artist
for the studio; skilled teacher for the |
of rural schools.
Sedalia, Mo. WIN. RICHARDSON.