The National Republican And Ohio Political Register

FREE SCHOOLS—No. VI.

The advantages to be derived from the appointment of a BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, who shall have a general superintendence of all free schools, academies, colleges and other institutions of science, in the state, and of the public funds which are and which may hereafter be appropriated for their support, must be manifest to every citizen who has seriously reflected upon the subject, and has contemplated the difficulties and embarrassments to be encountered, in establishing a judicious system. The expenses to the state, for the services of these commissioners, even with a salary of $1000 per annum, to each, would not equal the extra cost of legislation, upon the subject, which would necessarily be required without the aid and assistance of such a board. When a state is about engaging in measures, which, in their consequences, involve the prosperity and happiness, not only of the present age, but also that of posterity, much labor and expense must be bestowed in making the necessary preparations, before any decisive step can be taken, of permanent benefit. It is said, that the state of New-York expended more than one hundred thousand dollars in surveys, examinations and investigations, to ascertain the practicability, probable cost, and most eligible site, of her Great Western Canal, and in digesting the best system of finance and prudential means for its construction. This sum, although apparently large, was not disproportionate to the importance of the object and the magnitude of the undertaking, and having been expended in procuring correct information, probably saved the state, in prosecuting her works of internal improvement, more than one million of dollars. Her legislature submitted the whole to the investigation of a board of canal commissioners, composed of men of great learning, science, and intelligence, with a liberal and adequate compensation, whose reports, from time to time, enabled the government to adopt the most liberal measures, with the strictest regard to economy and an enlightened policy.

Can Ohio, in prosecuting her designs for the establishment of common schools and for the education of her whole population, pursue a course better calculated to promote so important an object? In our opinion, she cannot. Can the members of our legislature, this winter, act with a full knowledge of the subject? Will they be in possession of such information as will enable them to fix on any system which shall fulfil the expectations of the public, without being oppressive to the people? Will they know the number of children, from five to sixteen years of age, in each township and county, and the ability of the citizens to provide the funds for their education? Will they have time to examine the best and most economical mode of taxation, and of public instruction? Can they examine the details of an entire plan, with that attention and information which its importance requires? Will they be in possession of such facts, in relation to the peculiar situation of our school and college lands, as will justify them in legislating on that branch of the subject? We contend that these questions, and others equally pertinent which might be proposed, must and will be answered in the negative; And further, that the labor and attention of three commissioners, for one year, to the multiplicity of considerations with which the subject is involved, would not be more than requisite to enable the General Assembly to lay the foundation, and establish the principal features, of so extensive and momentous an object.

There is another consideration which must have a powerful influence on the legislature, in judging of the propriety and expediency of appointing a board of commissioners, and that is, the absolute necessity of adopting such a system, at first both as to its general regulations and the details of the plan, as will require but few subsequent amendments. And in doing this, the most prominent dangers and difficulties to be apprehended, will be those which may arise from too much legislation. The whole system, in all its essential qualifications and arrangements, should be as simple as possible, and that it be thoroughly understood by the citizens generally, is indispensable to its success. If laws for the establishment and government of free schools, are repealed, revised, altered and amended, at every session of the legislature, as many of our statutes, of a general nature, heretofore have been, the present generation will have passed away before Ohio will enjoy any substantial advantages from her public institutions for the education of her children.