The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-03-13
Paper BY Il. Il. Raymaa

Members of the Twice Five Club,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The educational question Of any
epoch Is one of interest. This 1,
especially true of a great common
wealth like Ohio. The educational
work of an epoch or series of ep
ochs depends largely upon the peo'
pie who make the history Of the
epoch or epochs. AS we take up
this report, it seems quite fitting
for us to call attention to the oidi.
nance of 1887. The third article oi
that Legislative declaration reads
as follows: "Religion, morality
and knowledge being necessary to
good government and the happi-
ness Of mankind, schools and the
means of education shall forever
be encouraged" This is remark
able declaration on the subject OF
education. This is one of the most
striking governmental policies
known to our history. This decla-
ration has ever stood as the great
light house on the educational
beach directing and greatly en-
couraging the. onward march of
every uplifting impulse.
The specific epoch, upon which
this report is founded, is that of
1928 to 1858. This epoch was not
especially remarkable for its edu-
cational advantages.
1t may be termed slow, but a
very sure development of the ger
minal period described by the
speaker who proceeded me. The
impetus given to education and ed
ucational work by that notable
waymark in legislative enactments,
the ordinance Of July l3, 1887, was
in this early period of Ohio history
proving the wisdom of its trainers.
In the early part of this period, the
people were not in such circum-
stances as to be permitted to give
much time to education. They had
what they called schools but they
were very crude indeed as were
the teachers. Reverting once more
to the ordinance of 1857 in which
two ideas have been very promin-
emily declared from that date to
this, viz: One against slavery and
the other in favor of popular edu-
cation, we find that many of the
carly statesmen and Governors of
Ohio from the earliest times have
advocated the imperative duty of
a common education which may
be obtained by rich and poor alike.
The constitution of 1902 made a
similar declaration In favor of an
educated citizenship, but nothing
favoring a system of schools was
done until 1919, when Ephriam
Cutler introduced a bill to estab-
lish and support system of COM
mon schools. Mr.. Cutters bill was
lost and nothing more was at
tempted until 1921, when Repre-
sentative Atwater of Pickaway
County brought the question of
popular education before the house.
This resulted in the appointment
Of committee which was to consid-
er all matters pertaining to educa-
tion.
The report of this committe rec
that the Governor ap-
point commission Of seven to
formulate place for elementary
education. This second committe
made report in January 1922 and
on the 3lst day of the same month
Il resolution was passed looking to-
ward or providing for a system of
common schools and, on the same
day, the history says, that another
resolution was passed favoring the
OF canals.
Thus we see, that our system of
education was a compromise with
one calling for or demanding In
ternal improvement. The adopt.
ing OF this system, however, did
not end the difficulties, for the leg
islature of 1923 and 1924 was op-
posed both to education and inter.
nal Improvement, and 1t was not
until 1925, that anything like sue
cess crowned the efforts Of the en-
thusiastic men who were giving
time and talent to this most i'm
portant problem OF education.
February g, 1925, law was pass
ed providing for the support and
better regulation of the common
schools of Ohio.
Under this law the examiners
were appointed by the court of
Common Pleas and no teacher
could be employed without their
The law was COM
mand to the people of Ohio to edu.