The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-03-10
The Proposed New School Law
Pertinent Criticisms by the Athens
Herald.

Mr.. Boxwell, the Warren County Repre-
sentative, has secured the passage OF his
bill in the House, providing for the grad
uation OF the pupils OF tn q country schools.
1t is strange that the Legislature OF Ohio
always goes Mt the public school question
in the wrong place. This bill. II 1t be-
comes n law, will be just so much more red
tape added to the short sighted policy
adopted by Ohio in dealing with the
schools of the state. Graduation, what do
! we want of 1t? We have too much sradu"-
ton now and not enough education. To
| graduate is TO finish ones education, /
the popular mind. And this is very er-
roneous idea to perpetuate. We now have
graduates from the high schools, graduates
| from preparatory departments OF colleges
and universities, graduates from buslnes
colleges, graduates from normal schools,
| graduates from schools of photography
and type-writing and Heaven only knows
how many other kinds of graduates. what
| we need is not more of the fuss and feath-
| ers of graduating exercises, but better
| teachers and more substantial instructions
According to this bill, all graduates from
! the country schools will have tuition to
such Eigh schoo Is as they may attendpaid
by tn e township in which they live. This
is n big idea certainly-a sort OF tempest in
| the teapot idea. How many of the rich
| farmers of the county are sending, thelr
| children to the high schools Eow? If Mr..
Boxwell wants to remove the differences
| between the rich and poor in this respect,
| he should provide for the payment OF the
board and clothes of the country children
who should attend the high schools. These |
| are heavy expenses.
Our schools need no more gaudy snow. |
They require better teachers, better appa- |
ratus, better school houses, longer sessions, |
more brains, less superficial graduatlon-ln |
short u school sy stem. system based on |
the knowledge and experience OF those |
who have given their life WORK to educa- |
t,on. The present school system lift may |
be called such, has many evils. Chief
among these are: The sub-district school
board, ungraded schools, lack of supervis-
ion, the adoption poor school BOOKS by
ignorant boards OF education, lack of uni
formity in the examination OF teachers.
Remove these crimes against the people
of Ohio, then some progress may be made
In the direction of good schools. But TO
cover these radical wrongs with the sweet
scented varnish of graduation is but to
teach the youth of our land "knowledge-
fumes" and leave them to knowledge it
self unknown.
But this Is not the W orst fenture of the
bill. II is wicked and pernicious in its
tendency. 1t will make the children o.
the country look to the towns for their
Ideas and their education. Anything
which does this is wrong, The city or
town ID MT the best place for educating
children, especially those OF high school
age The environment of the country Is
much more conducive to study than that
OF the best town in Ohio. Town ideas, So
called, nre not the best in the world. They
ideas, so-calied, are not the best in the
world. They are OF the most marrow and
superficial kind. Add then we need keep
our boys and girls on the farm. Brains are
needed in the country and 1t is sin to
hurry the most promising girls and boys
We have off to the towns, there probably only
to waste the cool cash of their parents.
Begin ut the other emo, make good schools
at home, and keep the children there.