THE Ohio Journal of Education. COLUMBUS, JANUARY, 1856. Introductory. T the dawn of a new year, the first number of a new volume A of the Journal goes forth to meet its patrons and friends, and tender to them and all the friends of our cause the customary greeting of the season; would that our kindly wishes, emanating as they do from the heart, could reach the heart as well as the eye of all who are laboring with us in the cause of education. The fifth volume, how suggestive the thought! Since our work commenced what changes have occurred! During the last four years some 200,000 of the youth of Ohio have reached their majority, have passed from our schools with such preparation for the duties of life as these schools have afforded: they have become part of our citizens, their suffrages are deciding the most momentous questions connected with the welfare of the State, and their influence affecting, favorably or unfavorably, all by whom they are surrounded. Within that time a still larger number have become entitled to the privileges of our schools, and are now yielding to the moulding influence of the Teachers to whom their training is entrusted. It is still The great object for which we labor, and which has heretofore been clearly set forth, is still the same; the means by which it is to be accomplished remain unchanged. We come with no new revelation on this subject we have no brilliant experiments to exhibit, no novel theories to propose, no startling discoveries to announce. true, as in time past, that there is no royal road to learning: knowledge must still be acquired, fact by fact, item by item, by patient and persevering toil. In the same manner only can mental discipline be acquired, by the continued exercise of each faculty and susceptibility of the mind. Perception, consciousness and reason, understanding, VOL. V, No. 1. 1 judgment, memory and imagination, must each receive the culture appropriate to itself; and the habits of attention, observation, investigation, reflection, reasoning and thinking must be formed and nurtured. So also with respect to the formation of character; each and every desirable trait must receive its share of attention, must be wisely and kindly fostered and strengthened. Promptness and punctuality, diligence and industry, neatness and order, courtesy and politeness, kindness and generosity, forbearance and magnanimity, frankness and sincerity, truthfulness and candor, benevolence and piety, these, and all the graces which adorn, and the virtues which enter into our ideal、 of true manhood and womanhood, must receive constant attention and assiduous care. To such a work as this is it that the true Teacher is devoted. Need any wonder that it is a work of time, of labor? To aid in the successful accomplishment of this work is our aim; and, that we may be enabled to labor efficiently in their behalf, we invoke the aid of Teachers and all interested in our work, in filling our pages with such articles as should find place in a Journal of Education. Ohio State Teachers' Association. The eight annual meeting of this Association was attended in Columbus on the 26th and 27th of Dec. 1855. The members convened in Odeon Hall at 10 o'clock, A. M., of the 26th, Mr. A. J. Rickoff, the President, in the chair, W. Mitchell Secretary. The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. A. Smyth, of Toledo. On motion Messrs. J. N. Desellem of Jefferson county, J. G. Marchant of Hamilton county, and E. E. White of Cuyahoga county, were appointed assistant Secretaries. Some time was then devoted to the receiving and enrollment of members. The President made some remarks upon the favorable circumstances under which the Association met, and the necessity of promptness on the part of committees and members in the transaction of business. Mr. Holbrook of Warren county, offered the following: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed for the purpose of drafting a petition to the Legislature in behalf of Normal Schools, of which committee the President of the Association shall be a member ex-officio. The resolution was adopted, and Messrs. A. Holbrook, M. F. Cowdery, E. C. Ellis, and A. Freese, were appointed members of said committee. Pres. Lorin Andrews presented the outlines of a plan for systematizing the business of the Financial Committee. Mr. Jno. H. Rolfe offered the following: Resolved, That L. Andrews, A. Freese, John Hancock, A. D. Lord, and M. F. Cowdery be appointed a committee to present to the Association some appropriate mode of obtaining the funds needed to carry forward the objects of the Association; which was adopted. Dr. W. C. Catlin, on the part of the citizens and Board of Education of Mansfield, invited the Association to hold its next semi-annual meeting at Mansfield. On motion of Rev. A. Smyth it was resolved to hold the next meeting at Mansfield. Prof. F. Merrick, of the Ohio Wesleyan University, who was appointed to deliver the opening address, not having arrived, the Association proceeded to other business. Mr. Eaton, of Cuyahoga, on behalf of the committee appointed at the last semi-annual meeting to memorialize the Legislature on the subject of truancy and vagrancy, presented the features of said memorial, and reported the steps taken to procure facts and statistics to be embodied in said memorial. Mr. H. H. Barney, State Commissioner of Common Schools, on invitation of the President, made some remarks upon the condition of the edu cational interests of the State. He remarked that the progress of the Public Schools in the State was upward and onward; that the number of the Union or Graded Schools had been doubled; that preparations were being made to have High Schools in townships where there are no large towns in the townships; and that already all the important towns are being distinguished by these graded Schools; that not only does there exist a deep and earnest appreciation of the efforts of this Association within the State, but without. Ohio has become observed even by those Eastern States which have made the greatest progress in education. In his recent visit to New England, he had heard those en gaged in their most successful institutions, acknowledge that our system is the best in the Union-that they were being outstripped by us. But in his own State, he had heard objections to the Graded Schools. Some say we do, or attempt to do, too much-that our standard of education is too high. How far is this objection valid? Does educa tion make the people discontented? When a people are educated a little, are they not encouraged to desire more? If they become discontented, it is a discontent with ignorance. Such discontent will always exist. Facts were presented to show that the graded system was more useful and more economical than any other, and hence tax-payers were interested in having the system more and more perfected, and more and more extended. He represented as false and degrading the idea that men should think only of the welfare of themselves, of the education of their own children -if such selfishness was to prevail, civil and Such were not the sentiments that in - religious liberty would wane. spired Washington and his illustrious compeers. Their public spirit sought to render this world a scene of peace and purity, of happiness akin to that better country to which they aspired. Let the present system of Common Schools be permitted to have fair work, and the fruits will be manifest. The High Schools are incentives to teachers and to the pupils of the District Schools, and they are reciprocally beneficial. If the Common School system of Ohio then is let alone, it will become the best in the Union. On motion, the Report of the committee on Normal Schools was made the order for 3 o'clock, P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Association convened, the President in the chair. Mr. J. P. Ellinwood moved that a committee of seven be appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year. Messrs. J. P. Ellinwood, L. Andrews, E. E. White, S. J. Henderson, W. A. McKee, J. Ogden and F. W. Hurtt were appointed said committee. Mr. Andrews, Chairman of the committee to present a plan for raising the funds needed to carry on the operations of the Association, make the following report: The committee recommend, that as far as possible, pledges be ob tained from Teachers for the payment of one per cent. on all salaries not exceeding $600, and one and a half per cent. on all salaries over $600 said sums to be paid semi-annually in advance. The Report was accepted. On motion for the adoption of the Report remarks were made by Messrs. Rolfe, L. Andrews, A. Smyth, and others. Mr.C. Rogers moved to amend, by substituting one per cent. on all salaries. Mr. Smyth moved to amend the amendment by striking out |