Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/160

 CHAPTER XIV.

��EDUCATION* — EARLY SCHOOL LAWS — NOTES — INSTITUTES AND EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS- SCHOOL SYSTEM — SCHOOL FUNDS— COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

��WHEN the survey of the Northwest Terri- tory was ordered by Cougress, March 20, 1785, it was decreed that every sixteenth section of land should be reserved for the "maintenance of public schools within each township." The ordinance of 1787 — thanks to the New England Associates — proclaimed that, " religion, morality and knowledge being essential to good government, schools and the means of education should forever be encouraged." The State Constitution of 1802 declared that " schools and the means of instruc- tion should be encouraged by legislative provision, not inconsistent with the rights of conscience." In 1825, through the persevering efforts of Nathan (luilford, Senator from Hamilton County, Ephraim Cutler, Representative from Washington County, and other friends of education, a bill was passed, " laying the foundation for a general system of common schools." This bill provided a tax of one- half mill, to be levied by the County Commis- sioners for school purposes ; provided for school examiners, and made Township Clerks and County Auditors school officers. In 1829, this county tax was raised to three-fourths of a mill ; in 1834 to one mill, and, in 1836, to one and a half mills. In March, 1837, Samuel Lewis, of Hamilton County,was appointed State Superintendent of Com- mon Schools. He was a very energetic worker, trav- eling on horseback all over the State, delivering ad- dresses and encouraging school officers and teachers. Through his efforts much good was done, and

Thomas W. Harvey, A. M.
 * From the School Commis'iioners' Reports, principally those of

Note 1. — The first school taught in Ohio, or in the Northwestern Territory, was iu 1791. The first teacher was Maj. Austin Tiipper, I'ldestson of Gen. Benjamin Tupper, both Revolutionary officers. The room occupied was the same as that in which the first Court was held, and was situated in. the northwest block-house ot the garrison, called the stockade, at Marietta. During the Indian war Bchool was also taught at Fort Harmar. Point Marietta, and at other set- tlements. A meeting was held in Marietta, April 29, 1797, to con- sider the erection of a school building suitable for the instruction lit the youth, and for conducting religious services. Resolutions were adopted which led to the erection of a building called the Muskingum Academy. The building was of frame, forty feet long and twenty-four feet wide, and is yet(l.'i7S (standing. Thebuilding was twelve fpet high, with an arched ceiling It stood upon a stone foundation, three steps from the ground. There were twochimneys and a lobby projection. There was a cellar under the whole build- ing. It stood upon a beauti'ul lot, fronting the Muskingum River, and about sixty feet back fioui the street. Some large trees were

��many important features engraft.ed on the school system. He resigned in 1839, when the officewas abolished, and. its duties imposed on the Secretary of State.

The most important adjunct in early education in the State was the college of teachers organized in Cincinnati in 1831. Albert Pickett, Dr. Joseph Ray, William H. McGruffey — so largely known by his Readers — and Milo G. Williams, were at its head. Leading men in all parts of the West at- tended its meetings. Their published deliberations did much for the advancement of education among the people. Through the efforts of the college, the first convention held in Ohio for educational purposes was called at Columbus, January 13, 1836. Two years after, in December, the first convention in which the different sections of the State were represented, was held. At both these conventions, all the needs of the schools, both com- mon and higher, were ably and fully discussed, and appeals made to the people for a more cordial support of the law. No successful attempts were made to organize a permanent educational society until December, 18-47, when the Ohio State Teach- ers' Association was formed at Akron, Summit County, with Samuel Galloway as President; T. W. Harvey. Recording Secretary ; M. D. Leggett, Corresponding Secretary ; William Bowen, Treas- urer, and M. F. Cowdrey, Chairman of the Executive Committee. This Association entered upon its work with commendable earnestness, and has since

��upon the lot and on the street in front. Across the street was an open common, and beyond that the river. Immediately opposite tlie door, on entering, was a broad aisle, and, at the end of the aisle, against the wall, was a desk or pulpit. On the right and left of the pulpit, against the wall, and fronting the pulpit, was a row of slips. On each sideof the door, facing the pulpit, were two slips, and, at each end of the room, one slip. These slips werchtationary, and were fitted with desks that could be let -lown, and there were boxes in the desks for holding books and papers. In the center of the room was an open space, which could be filled with movable seats. The first school was opened here in 1800." — Letter of A. T. Nye.

Note 2. — Another evidence of the character of th»> New England Associates is the founding of a public library as early as 1796, or before. Another was also established at Belpre about the same time. Abundant evidence proves the existence of these libraries, all tend- ing to the fact that the early settlers, though conquering a wilder- ness and a savage foe, would not allow their mental faculties to lack for food. The cliaracter of the books shows that "solid" reading predominated.

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