Items.

Mr. A. J. RICKOFF, formerly Principal of the sixth District School, has been appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of Cincinnati: his salary is not yet determined.

Mr. CYRUS KNOWLTON has been appointed Principal of the Hughes High School, Cincinnati, in place of Mr. H. H. BARNEY, resigned. His salary is $1500. Mr. JAMES M. Ross, for several years Assistant in the first district, has recently been appointed Principal of the Public School in the sixth district.

Mr. DAVID P. MAYHEW, for many years Principal of a flourishing Academy in Lowville, N. Y., is to succeed A. D. LORD, as Superintendent of the Public Schools of Columbus; salary $1200.

Mr. J. R. KINNEY, late Principal of a Grammar School in Toledo, is appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of Defiance.

Mr. J. M. SAFFORD, Professor of Geology in Cumberland University, a graduate of Ohio Unversity, has been elected State Geologist by the Legislature of Tennessee.

Mr. C. S. ROYCE, who has recently been teaching Phonotypy in the Marlboro Union School, requests that all who have charge of schools in which Phonotypy has been taught during the past year, will report to him the success attending its introduction. His address is Plymouth, Richland Co., 0.

Mr. J. H. L. SCOTT, of the House, has introduced a bill providing for a thorough geological survey of the State. Next to liberal appropriations for the education of all our youth, nothing would contribute more to the wealth of Ohio than the immediate execution of such a survey.

Mr. LORIN ANDREWS will attend the Institutes in Coshocton and Steubenville, and can attend one during the first week in April, if arrangements can be made for that purpose in season.

The Agent expects to attend those held in Clermont, Brown and Richland counties, and can attend two or three others in the month of May, if that time will accommodate any of the counties.

The laws in force relating to Teachers' Institutes (on page 123) are copied from Swan's Revised Statutes, and may therefore be relied upon. It is hoped that, by understanding the subject, and attending to it in season, Teachers will be able to secure appropropriations from the County Commissioners much more generally than has been customary for years past.

From the fact that several counties had made their arrangements to hold Institutes at the same time, it has been impossible for the Agent to attend all to which he has been invited, or as yet to make arrangements for furnishing an Instructor.

TEACHERS WANTED.-Seven good female Teachers are wanted in the Union Schools of Ironton, Lawrence co., to whom from $20 to $25 per month will be given, according to the grade of the schools. Teachers desiring places, will do well to make immediate application to the Board of Education, by letter or otherwise they should also present testimonials of character and qualifications. The next term will commence about the first of April.

Feb. 28th, 1854.

THOMAS PROCTOR, Secretary of the Board of Education.

A gentleman of long experience in teaching, is desirous to secure a situation as Principal of a good Union School or Academy. Inquiries may be directed to A. D. Lord, Columbus, O.

THE

Ohio Journal of Education.

COLUMBUS, MAY, 1854.

To County Auditors and Township Boards of Education.

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF MON, SCHOOLS, }

O., April, 1854.

HE great number of questions arising under the present School Law, and the importance of having a thorough understanding by its officers, of the provisions of the law, and a uniform policy persued in all the counties, in its administration, have imposed the necessity of having some medium of communication with those officers; and the Commissioner has gladly availed himself of the use of the Ohio Journal of Education for this purpose.

All my official decisions and opinions have been, and will continue to be, published in the Journal; and it is my opinion that County Auditors will be justified in subscribing for a copy for their own use, and one (or more) for the Board of School Examiners; and that township boards may order it for the township clerk, and the clerk of each sub-district, and include the cost of the same, in their annual estimate of money to be raised, in accordance with the first clause of the 22d section of the School Law.

The copies so taken should, of course, be kept on file in their respective offices, and be transmitted to their successors in office.

The cost of the Journal, is $1.00 per year. It is published monthly, in a form suitable for binding: it may be secured by adressing Journal of Education, Columbus, O.

Editors throughout the State, by publishing the above, will confer a favor on School Officers, and greatly abridge the official correspondence

of the subscriber.

VOL. III, No. 5

H. H. BARNEY, Commissioner.

9

According to section 20, each township board of education may, under certain circumstances, establish such number of graded schools, or such modifications of them, as the educational interests may require. Where this is done, there will be several schools in the same sub-dis trict, and section 14 gives township boards the power to assign such number of scholars to each of the several primary schools in such subdistrict as they may deem best, and to regulate and to control the admission of scholars to schools of higher grade. For instance, the township board may throw two, or three or four districts into one, and establish therein primary schools, grammar schools, and even a highschool, if the people so decide by their votes, at a special meeting for the purpose, according to the provisions of section 21.

QUESTION 35.-1. Does the new school act authorize township boards of education to impose upon the taxable property of a sub-district in which a new school house is ordered to be erected, one portion of its cost, upon two or three other districts, another portion, and the balance upon the property of the township at large?

2. Under what circumstances would a township board be justifiable in imposing upon a sub-district the whole cost of purchasing a site, and erecting a school-house thereon?

ANSWER. The law contemplates that the erection of school-houses shall ultimately become a matter of common interest to the townshipthat the cost of school-houses and of their sites, shall be a township charge. Still, the 23d section allows a special assessment upon the sub-district, in which the building is to be erected, if the inhabitants thereof have not previously borne a reasonable share of taxation for that purpose; but the balance of the tax must be imposed upon the township at large. I am of the opinion that only one such special assessment can be made. Upon the property of a particular sub-district, the law allows the township board to certify for assessment such a portion as they may deem just and equitable; but here their discretion to make such apportionment ends. The balance of the assessment must be levied on the township at large.

Can the township board impose the whole expense of purchasing & site and erecting a school-house, on a single sub-district? The language of the law is, that they may discriminate by certifying for assessment on a particular district, "such portion as they may deem just and equitable of the amount of the estimate." If they decide that a just and equitable portion is the whole amount, there is no provision restraining that exercise of their discretion; but I would decidedly recommend a more

133

general rule. Practically, a great inequality in the school accommodations of different sub-districts might ensue, for the several local directors would not unreasonably demand the right to prescribe the style of building for which their sub-district was to pay the entire cost. The law seeks uniformity in this respect. Its policy is, that the strong districts should help the weak, and that too great a contrast should not exist in the convenience or style of school edifices in the same township. It is hoped, therefore, that township boards will not press the exception provided for in the 23d section too far-that they will endeavor to equalize the benefits derivable from the modern improvements in school architecture among all the sub-districts under their charge. While, therefore, I decide that township boards would not carry out the intention of the law by imposing in all cases upon the inhabitants of each sub-district the whole cost of procuring a site and erecting and repairing the school house thereon: still I am unwilling to prescribe any rule which shall control the discretion manifestly vested in the township board, by section 23. I would only interpose the foregoing suggestions for their intelligent consideration.

Let

every thing be done with the utmost kindness, and with a view to equalize, as nearly as practicable, the educational privileges of the several districts of the township,-remembering always, that the children of the poorer districts are equally susceptible of suffering from incommodious school houses and uncomfortable seats, with the children of the more wealthy districts. Improper postures, foul air, excessive heat or cold, discomfort in any form, is as perilous to them and as unfavorable to the symmetrical and healthy growth of their bodies, and the culture of their minds and moral sentiments, as to those whom kind fortune has blessed with greater advantages, more gracious smiles, and kindlier influences at home.

It is therefore the business of township boards of education to see that the school-houses of all the districts are well constructed, kept in good order, properly seated, well ventilated, and suitably provided with all reasonable facilities for making the school a pleasant resort, the scene of happy faces, mental activity, social and moral refinement. They should remember that their duties are delicate and responsible, and should be discharged in the best of faith: that they are thus preparing the way for health, mental and moral culture, and that "no careless hand should ever play upon a harp where the tones are left forever in the strings."

QUESTION 36.-Before the passage of the new school law, an incor

porated village containing not less than three hundred inhabitants was divided into three school districts. In two of said districts, new schoolhouses had been erected some two years previous to the passage of the new school law, at a cost of about $600 each. How can the other district be made to bear its reasonable share of a tax to erect a new school house therein?

ANSWER. By reference to the middle part of section 22 of the new school act, it will be seen that "the entire amount of the estimates for the purpose of procuring school-house sites, and erecting school houses thereon, &c., is to be assessed on all the taxable property of the township, &c."

But according to the provisions of section 23, "the township board of education have the power, when in their opinion justice and equity require it, to estimate separately the cost of a site and house, in any particular sub-distrct of the township wherein the inhabitants have not heretofore borne a reasonable share of the burden of taxation for such purposes in comparison with other sub-districts in the township," &c.

Section 35 of the new school act confers the same discretionry power upon the board of education of any city or incorporated village: for it declares that such board "shall have and may exercise all the powers which are conferred upon the township boards of education," &c.

It is true that near the close of section 35, it is declared that "all taxes for building, purchasing, repairing, or for furnishing school houses, shall be equally assessed on all the taxable property of such city or village. But section 22 contains a similar declaration in regard to townships; but section 23 constitutes an exception to the rule laid down in section 22, when justice and equity require its exercise.

To avoid the repetition of section 23 after section 35, the language of the first part of this section was used, as I am assured by the framers of the law; and the practice in several incorporated villages in the State, has been as indicated above.

QUESTION 37.-In a certain township, embracing, before the passage of the new school law, nine school districts, the electors thereof proceeded to elect, on the second Monday of April last, three local directors in each of said sub-districts. In due time said directors took the oath of office required by law, met and organized by appointing one of their number clerk of the sub-district.

On the third Monday of April last, the said clerks of the said nine sub-districts, together with the clerk of the township, met and organized as a township board of education according to law. They then proceed