OFFICE OF THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS, To His Excellency THOMAS L. YOUNG, Governor of Ohio: DEAR SIR: I have the honor to submit, through you, to the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, the Annual Report of the State Commissioner of Common Schools for the year ending August 31, 1877. Very truly, your obedient servant, CHIAS. S. SMART, State Commissioner of Common Schools. TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS. To the General Assembly of the State of Ohio: GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit to you, through His Excellency, the Governor of the State, the twenty-fourth annual report of the school department of Ohio. It has been customary to present briefly, in this annual report, to you as the representatives of the people, the cost of education, number educated, the number engaged in educating, the various expedients, facilities, and provisions adopted and proposed for improving these, and throughout the report to so laud, and magnify, and exalt public school condition and management as to leave the impression that schools-houses, teachers, officers, about all that pertains to public education-are, as nearly as can be, what the public needs, should have, and pays for. Public sentiment and opinion, created largely by these annual reports from the head of the educational department of the State, and by the statements and opinions set forth by teachers in other educational reports, make it somewhat unpleasant to break this rule, even though, at this time, the exception to, rather than compliance with, the rule will better subserve the public interest. Therefore, in making this report, I shall not be governed by precedents. When the public is dependent, almost entirely, upon the reports of officials and employés for the information that should make known the cost, character, condition, and worth of the public schools, and these employés and officials, animated by a desire to build up and strengthen a good institution, annually portray the public school management in such brilliant colors as to leave nowhere a dark corner or shade marring the glorious sunlight of this management, it is not strange that the public may, for a time, be dazzled and see only the bright colors and fruitful fields, though there be shadow, and darkness, and barrenness all about them. So satisfied has the public grown, that public school condition is about as good as it can be, or so apathetic respecting its condition that the school managers have been left to do much as they please, untram |