The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-03-01

naUl nave OIIen Deen referred 10 az me DeSt III
the State, they made a wonderful display at the
the Commercial Gazette of February 10, 1887,
we find the.following editorial:
SO. There ought to be a change. Under the system
IF popular elections the schools have been tainted
with ward politics. The trail of the serpent is
over them.'
If, under the system of popular elections,
ward politics and snakes aff1ict the city system,
under the same conditions, would they not
aff1ict the township system?
81. There has been crooked work with the schools,
and 1t should be efficiently and officially exposed.
"S. That this exposure may be complete. the inves
tgation should be by committee of the General As
semby and IL should be understood that there was
to be revolution such that all teachers would be
emancipated from the petty and corrupt despotism,
under whose indignities and exactions they have
suffered.
"s The special sin that has been committed is the
blackmailng of the lady teachers, and associated
with this is the poisoning of the blood of the school
system by infsng into 1t corrupt politics. The mis-
chief done in this is not great might have
been expected; but there spots of gangrene and
only the surgeons knife effect a radical cure.'
If the blackmailing of teachers and the poi
soning of the blood of the school sys'e by in
fusing into it corrupt politics is it not equally
possible in the country under a like system
You can apply the surgeons knife as freely as
you like to the sore spots in the graded system,
but, if you please, keep, your surgeon and his
knife awsy from the ungraded schools.
Again, hear the testimony of patron of
these schools, as published in the Commercial
Gazette, February %, 1887:
1.-THE SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSITIONS.
ITO the Editor of the Commercial Gazette:
1.-THE trend of your editorials lately in avoring the
propositions to vest the Principals of the school
with the power of the Board of Education has caused
considerable apprehension among the teachers. The
present system is bad enough but putting the power
in the hands of the Principals would be placing a
yoke of complete servitude upon the necks of the
women teachers 1t is only few years since the Prfn
cipals had almost absolute power and never was pow
more abused. Those whs have been acquainted
with school proceedings can recall names Of women
teachers who have lost their places, not from any
derelcton of duty. but from the vicious spite
arice of the Principal He has the power, if he de-
sires her removal to place obstacles in her way that
are almost insurmountable. He can give her an in
ferior class he fnsubordnation the part
of nnruy children and then refuse his assistance and
forbid her from resorting to methods of her own.
"Teachers continually anxious when their ten
of office depends upon the good will of Princi
pal not above reproach, who carries around "back
is TO place before the Trustees who have the reap
pointing power.
women. Nearly all the good resulting from the
schools is due to women. Do parents desire to in
trust their children for eight ten of the most i'm
pressbe years their lives in the hands of teachers
who must become servfe under this pro-
posed regime?
'sThink of the charges against of the Princi-
pals made public by investigation before the Board
Several have forfeited their places by their pernf-
cious conduct. but for how many years did they re-
main in Office before the parents in indigna-
tiou?
''The Principals Association is, we believe, a
stronger organization than that of any secret society
We believe that they bound by agreement to de-
fend each other all circumstances.
''The Principals who are moral men are never heard
to condemn the actions of an immoral one until he
has rretrievably lost his position; neither will he
allow a teacher to do without manifesting resent
ment.
women teachers helpless. They only ap
peal to sense of justice from those not connected
with the schools.
You are urgently requested to devise some other
method of school government
Commenting on the above, the editor says:
s'It is not hard to read the lines of this
communication, and mark the genuine alarm 1t dis
plays and the peculiar reservations with which it
abounds, the whole thing making most pathetic pre-
sentaon of the abuses of the schools and the subor
dinaion of those who do the work to the bosses who
sit in high chairs and survey the landscapes and train
their mind. in abstract thought.
1--WE have only suggested that the Board might be
made up of the Principals as one way of avoiding
return to the old School Board and school ring
TEN. The communication that give states weighty
reasons why there should not be a Board of Princi
pals. 1t to be the opinion of the women teach
that the local trustees modify the despotism
of the ring of Principals to some extent. The Prn
cipas 1t wi be remembered do not teach any more.
They supervise and have time for light reading.
and local politics. But they get two and
a half times the pay that goes to those who do the
actual work.''
What deplorable condition is here revealed
citizens of the great State of Ohio,
you ready 10 exchange your system of free
schools which has contributed so much to your
peace and prosperity, for one that will bring
upon you all the horrors of place-seeking and
political corruption?
Further, with your permission, will present
the evidence of Leroy D. Brown, ex-Commis'
sioner of Schoos-eminent authority:
Especial to the Commercial Gazette.
"WAsHINGToN, March 16.-At the National As
semblage of School Superntendents, now in session
here, Mr.. Leroy D. Brown, State Commissioner of
Schools in Ohio, spoke upon the spois system in the
schools He said that this system, of which much
said in politics. had made its appearance in the
schools. Places the Boards of Education
sought for the money in them If it be the purchase
Of site, the selection of plan the giving of
contract it not the most suitable site, the best
olan the most advantageous contract but the per
cent the members of the Board to get from the
which controlled the selection. He said
ne fortified with facts and figures that these
;iderations controlled in many towns and cities.
the Presidents of the Boards of Education got
heir appointments in recognition of money consid-
,rations. In a word, the spoils system was fu the
schools"
There is room for improvement in the country
chools, but it seems to me the road to perfec-
ion does not lie in the direction Of a system
raught with SO many dangers, and subject to
uch abuses, are here indicated. I for one
lad rather take the opposite course.
Miss LIE Rows little book, entitled "English
Is She Is Taught" is a sad commentary upon
be efficiency of the city schools. 1t shows the
,ernicious effects of crowding children beyond
heir capacity, by requiring them to go over a
ertain course in given time, without regard to
of mental growth and development.
The answers preserved in this book come from
he brigh test minds, and, in all fairne ess, may
e admitted evidence of the mischiefs of the
ystem, rather than the fault of the teacher.
hey range over fifteen subjects or branches,
rom etymology to metaphysics, and show the
aneful results of examining the child mind
With such variety of subjects. before it has |
cquired the power of classifying and assimi-
ating the knowledge solght
The description of DIR. Blimber's school, by |
,ickens in Dombey and Son, may be appro- |
riately quoted here:
Dr Blim bers establishment was a great not-nouse
which there forcing apparatus necessarily
work. All the boys blew before their time. Men,
Il green peas were produced at Christmas, and in
sllectual asparagus all the year round. Mathemat
,al GOO cherries (verv sour ones) were common at
ntimey seasons and from mere sprouts of bushes
nder Dr. Blimber's cultivation. Every description
Greek and Latin Vegetable was got off the dryest
wigs of boys under the frostiest circumstances. Ma
Ire was of no consequence at all. No matter what
oung gentleman was in tended to bear, DR.. Blimber
ade him bear pattern. But the system of forcing
as attedded with its usual disadvantages. There
as the right taste about the premature produc-
ons. and they didn't keep well. When poor Paul
i'd spet out No. he found he had no idea of No. l.
agments whereof afterwards obtruded themselves
to No. 3, which sided into No. 4, which grated