The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-01
oHIo,s SCHOOL CODE

Through the activities of the state
teachers association 1t Is beginning
to assume a tangible form in Kansas.
1T has already been undertaken in
Ohio, where the general assembly Of
that state. in special session, has just
finished complete revision Of the
state school code. What Ohio has
done in this respect should be interest
ing, and possibly most instructive to
Kansas and other states which are CIV
ing their attention to this vital prob
lem; and especially in view Of the fact
that the United States bureau of edu-
cation expresses the emphatic opinion
about the activities In Ohio that at
is doubtful II there has ever been
school legislation enacted by a single
session of the legislature in any other
state within the last half century,
To get clear understanding Of how
all this was accomplished, it Is neces-
sary to know something of the Ohio
state school survey which preceded
this legislation. The story of this sur
vey is given in the report to the gov
ernor of Ohio by the state school sur
vey commission which was created by
an act which passed the general as
sembly February 2e. 1913, to conduct
survey of the public schools of the
state. The survey was a cooperative
field study conducted by DR.. Horace L.
Britain, of the New York Training
School of Public Service. 1t comprised
an intensive study of $50 rural village
schools in SO counties, and an extern
sive study Of 5000 schOolrooms and
395 school systems 1t was partici-
pated in by A. professors in profess
sional schools for the training of
teachers and 116 students in these in
situations most of whom had had ex-
perience in rural teaching, 395 super
intendents Of schools and other school
men and women. and 5000 teachers
who supplied information for the COM
mission. 1t was a statewide revival in
school matters as we'll as a state wide
scientific survey Of school conditions.
By proclamation. Governor Cox named
November II, 1918. as state school
survey day for the entire state. in
which he said, Let 1t be a day of
genuine awakening. The necessity and
opportunity Of the hour call for it." 1t
is estimated that 1000 community
meetings were held on this date where
probably 100000 citizens Of Ohio
learned Of school conditions through
out the state and listened to the reme-
dies suggested for improvement.
The commission in its letter for
transmittal says: I'VE have tried to
make a matter Of fact statement Of the
results of our field work. Our motto
has been, Nothing extenuate. nor set
down aught in malice We have taken
no pleasure in laying bare deplorable
conditions. We believe the simple
statement of these conditions will do
much to bring about the reforms
which we urge. We have also found
much to commend-good teachers,
good conditions and q good spirit. On
these we must build"
The recent school legislation IN Ohio
was enacted in the light Of this sur
vey. The more important provisions
are:
New rural-school supervision law.
Under this act the school districts of
the state are to be styled. respectively.
city-school districts, village-school
districts, rural-school districts, and
county-school districts.
New Qualifications law. There Is to
be a state board of school examiners
consisting Of five competent persons,
residents of the state. to be appointed
by the superintendent of public in
struction, not more than three of
whom shall belong to the same politi-
cal party.
Law on the training Of teachers for
village and rural schools. Boards Of
education which maintain first-grade
high schools in village or rural dis
tricts may establish normal depart
ments in such schools for the training
of teachers for village and rural
schools. Not less than one nor more
than three such schools shall be estab-
lished in any county. The superinten-
dent of public instruction IL to desig-
nate schools to establish such depart
ments.
Law basing the distribution Of the
state school fund in the number of
teachers and average daily attendance
of pupils.
Law on minimum salaries for teach
ers. No person shall be employed to
teach in any public school in Ohio for
less than $40 a month. When a school
district has not sufficient money to
pay it's teachers such salaries for eight
months of the year, after the board
of education of such district has made
the maximum legal school levy, three
fourths of which shall be for the
tuition fund. then such district may re-
ceive from the state treasurer suffi-
cient money to make up the deficiency.
Law for state aid to weak school
districts appropriates the balance of
former appropriations and the sum of
$4,000.
Law on the inspection of high
schools. The superintendent of public
instruction shall appoint two compe-
tent high school inspectors. not con-
nected with any college or university.
two public high school inspectors Sc