450 - HISTORY OF OHIO It should be understood that drainage has made Wood County what it is today. Thirty years and more ago there were 16,000 miles of ditches in this county, made at a cost of many millions of dollars. One single ditch, known as the "Jackson Cut-off," drains 30,000 acres and cost $110,000. Then after all of this wonderful agricultural progress came the discovery of the county's immense gas and oil resources. The county is rich in its soil and many natural resources besides. In 1923 it produced 309,524 tons of limestone. Its last (1923-24) county officials are : Probate Judge—B. 0. Bristline ; Clerk of the Courts—Alta E. DeRiar ; Sheriff—Ervin J. Reitzel ; Auditor—E. E. Corriell; County Commissioners—Charles T. Eggleston, Frank M. Adams and Edward L. Leathers ; Treasurer—Earl E. Bailey ; Recorder —Charles A. Heater ; Surveyor—Norman W. Locke ; Prosecuting Attorney—Ray D. Avery ; Coroner—J. C. Weatherell ; County Superintendent of Schools—H. A. Hall ; Agricultural Agent—H. S. Lewis. The county seat of Wood County is Bowling Green, 100 miles northwest of Columbus. As far back as 1890 this place had a flow of 25,000,000 cubic feet of gas per day. This brought many factories to locate here. Gas, oil and lime have built up a thriving city. Bowling Green has foundries and machine shops. It manufactures underwear, automobiles, lime and canned goods. It is in the midst of an oil producing country. The Bowling Green State Normal College is located here. The value of the real estate and personal property of the city for purposes of taxation in 1923 was $4,433,190. Population (1920) 5,788. Other villages of Wool County are North Baltimore, Bairdstown, Bloomdale, Cygnet, Green City, Pemberville, Grand Rapids, Hoytville. Millbury, Walbridge, Portage, Haskins, Custar, Milton Center, Bradner, Freeport, Rising Sun, West Millgrove, Perrysburg, Jerry, Tontogany and Weston villages. WYANDOT COUNTY Wyandot County was taken from parts of Marion, Crawford, Hardin and Hancock counties, February 3, 1845. The general sur- COUNTIES OF OHIO - 451 face is level and the soil is fertile throughout. Originally, one-third was prairie land and was covered by the so-called Sandusky plains. Its area is 406 square miles. Its civil townships are : Antrim, Crane, Crawford, Eden, Jackson, Marseilles, Mifflin, Pitt, Richland, Ridge, Salem, Sycamore and Tymochtee. Of its population it is seen by the United States census reports that in 1850 it had 11,194 inhabitants ; 1860, 15,596; 1870, 18,553 ; 1880, 22,395 ; 1890, 21,722 ; 1900, 21,125 ; 1910, 20,760; 1920, 19,481 ; population per square mile is now 48. From an early day this county was a favorite residence of the Wyandot Indians. It is noted for being the scene of Craw ford's defeat in June, 1782, and the subsequent cruel death of Crawford. The Delawares ceded their reservation in this county to the United States, in 1829. The Wyandots ceded theirs in 1842, they being the only Indians left in the state. The Wyandots left for the far west in July, 1843—about 700 souls in all. Hence it will be seen that every foot of soil in Ohio has been fairly bought by treaties from the original possessors. The recent bulletin issued by the agricultural department at Columbus, gives these statistics concerning agriculture and the products known as "staples" in 1923-24: In 1923 there were grown 47,000 acres of corn, producing 1,927,000 bushels ; wheat, 31,000 acres, bushels, 527,000; oats, 22,000 acres, bushels, 682,000; barley, 2,530 acres, bushels, 78,430 ; rye, 380 acres, 6,840 bushels ; buckwheat, 16 acres, produced 320 bushels ; tons of hay, 35,000; potatoes, 94,050 bushels ; horses in county, in 1924, 7,980 ; cattle, 19,200; dairy cows, 9,050 ; swine, 42,200 ; sheep, 60,200; land in farms in 1920, 245,297 acres ; average size farm, 93.6 acres. In 1923 Wyandot County produced 386,646 tons of limestone. Its present (1923-24) officials are as follows : Probate Judge—Charles F. Clase ; Clerk of the Courts—H. C. Staggs ; Sheriff—W. W. Scheidegger ; Auditor—Anthony J. Kraus ; County Commissioners—D. D. Young, A. J. Frederick and George A. Weininher ; Treasurer—Foster L. Finke ; Recorder—Raynard C. Boucher ; Surveyor—Charles F. Ellis ; Coroner—L. W. Naus ; County Superintendent of Schools—J. H. Grove; Agricultural Agent—H. R. Brinker. Upper Sandusky, the county seat of Wyandot County, is on the west bank of the Sandusky River, sixty-three miles north of Columbus. It was platted in 1843. The first Methodist Indian mission formed in the Mississippi Valley was the one established here under Rev. James B. Finley ; prior to that date the Catholics had a mission among the Indians in this section. John Stewart was first to preach to the Indians and formed the Wyandot Mission Church at Upper Sandusky. Stewart was a mulatto and used an interpreter, Jonathan Pointer, a negro. Indians were converted and two noted Indian ministers lie buried near the old mission church : Between-the-logs, died December, 1826, aged 50 years ; Rev. John Stewart, first missionary to the Wyandots, died December, 1833, aged 37 years ; Sum-mun-de-wat, murdered December, 1845, aged 46 years, buried in Wood County. Upper Sandusky has manufacturing establishments producing carriages, wagons, coffins, steel burial vaults, steam pumps, cigars, gloves and flour. The value of its personal property and real estate for purposes of taxation in 1923 was $5,719,160. Population (1920), 3,708. Charles Dickens in 1842 visited Upper Sandusky, remaining all night at a log cabin inn. He arrived by stage coach from Columbus en route to Buffalo. In his American Notes are found his observations concerning the roads and taverns of the then pioneer county of Wyandot. The big Sycamore trees at Upper Sandusky were supposed to be the largest trees east of the Rocky Mountains, in America. It was but a few miles west of Upper Sandusky, on the trail leading to the Big Spring, Wyandot town, where Colonel Crawford was 452 - HISTORY OF OHIO burned. History says "the Delawares burnt Crawford in satisfaction for the massacre of their people at the Moravian towns on the Muskingum." Other villages in this county are : Nevada, Carey, Kirby, Marseilles, Harpster, Wharton and Sycamore. KIRTLAND AND THE MORMONS The Village of Kirtland in Lake County, Kirtland Township, Ohio, owes its distinctive interest to the fact that it was once occupied by the followers of Joseph Smith, Jr., and that the temple erected here was built by the Mormons. The cornerstone was laid July 24, 1833, and the temple was dedicated March 27, 1836. To the Village of Kirtland in January, 1831, came Joseph Smith, Jr., the Mormon prophet and his family. He was followed by many adherents of the new faith. Hither in 1832 came Brigham Young. Here he married his first wife, Mary Ann Angel of Geauga County, who, it is claimed, was through his varied career and entire life the favorite of his large number of wives. Here the church founded by Smith flourished for a time. Here the Kirtland Safety Bank was established with Sidney Rigdon as president and Joseph Smith, Jr., as cashier. Here the failure of the bank and financial difficulties into which the church was plunged finally led to the exodus of the Mormons to the west. Not far from this place Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were tarred and feathered "by a mob of infuriated Baptist Campbellites and Methodists." This did not seem to halt their religious movement or diminish the power that they for a time exercised in Kirtland. COUNTIES OF OHIO - 453 After the failure of the bank and the financial crisis that it created in the community Smith and Rigdon left Kirtland on horseback, as Smith afterwards himself said, "to escape mob violence which was about to burst upon us under the color of legal process." After the departure of the Mormons the temple which was erected at a cost of $65,000 was abandoned and seemed destined gradually to crumble into ruin. In the meantime the Mormon Church had divided. One branch that had included in their faith a sanction of polygamy settled finally in Salt Lake City ; the other branch that strongly opposed polygamy and has been known as the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" now has its general offices at Independence, Missouri. The latter branch as the legal successor of the original church as organized in Ohio now has possession of the temple at Kirtland which in recent years has been repaired and restored to its original dignity and attractiveness. Services are held regularly in the temple which is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The Village of Kirtland has been greatly improved and the dwelling houses that for a long time were practically abandoned have been reroofed and made attractive by the application of paint. New homes have been erected and a modest hotel has been built to accommodate visitors. Elder Eben Curry now serves the congregation of "Latter Day Saints" who meet regularly in this historic temple. The Mormons at Kirtland do not strike the casual observer as differing materially from other denominational congregations. They accept the Bible but supplement it with the Book of Mormon. They are good citizens—peaceable, temperate and law abiding. The Book of Mormon Rev. Solomon Spalding, who was born in 1761 and died in 1816, wrote a book entitled "The Manuscript Found," but was not able to find a publisher for it. It was a romance based upon the theory that the American Indians were the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. Persons who had seen Spalding's book in manuscript form or had heard the author read from it felt sure that the "Book of Mormon" was simply a copy or a paraphrase of "The Manuscript Found." This theory was exploited for years. Finally the Spalding manuscript was found. It is now in the library of Oberlin College. It corresponds neither in style nor content with the "Book of Mormon." Whence, then, came the "Book of Mormon ? Mr. M. R. Werner, whose ample volume, "Brigham Young," has recently (1925) been published, has this to say concerning its origin : "The whole Spalding story is an instance of the feverish effort of anti-Mormons to prove that Joseph Smith was incapable of writing the 'Book of Mormon' without the aid of God, and they refused to admit for a moment that he did so with the aid of God. It is my conviction that Joseph Smith wrote the 'Book of Mormon' without the aid of God, and that the book itself shows evidence of being a product of Smith's environment." Mr. Werner is in agreement with both branches of the church as to the authorship of the "Book of Mormon." He does not agree with them as to the source of inspiration. The Mormons believe that the "Book of Mormon" is the word of God revealed through Joseph Smith. EDUCATION AND THE PRESS CHAPTER I OHIO'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPORTANT EVENTS IN OHIO'S EDUCATIONAL HISTORY O. T. CORSON Ohio is well born. She is the eldest daughter of the great Northwest Territory dedicated and consecrated at its birth to two great ideals—universal freedom and universal education. The Immortal Ordinance of 1787 for the government of this territory contains no sentence fraught with deeper meaning and significance than the first sentence of Article III, more frequently quoted than understood and appreciated it is feared, which declares that "Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." In this declaration is found the charter of our public school system which represents at least a serious attempt to make valid the statement of the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal. The primary purpose of the public school is to furnish and to guarantee to all the children of all the people equality of educational opportunity. To the realization of this purpose Ohio is pledged in her Constitution and laws enacted in accordance therewith. Just as eternal vigilance has always been the price paid for liberty, so constant effort has been necessary to maintain the public schools, the chief source of that universal intelligence which is essential to universal freedom. To call attention to some of the important events in Ohio's educational history, indicative of this constant effort to maintain the public schools, seems proper on this anniversary occasion. Two years before the enactment of the Ordinance of 1787 for the government of the Northwest Territory, the Continental Congress had made provision for the survey and disposition of the land to be occupied by the first settlers. By this provision, section 16, one of the four sections at the center of each township of thirty-six square miles or sections, was reserved for the maintenance of the public schools of the township. The mismanagement of this generous endowment for public education is one feature of Ohio's educational history to which we cannot point with pride. The mere thought of what would have resulted had this endowment of 700,000 acres of Ohio land been conserved, suggests that there is at least as much truth as poetry in the oft-quoted sentiment : "For of all sad things of tongue or pen, The saddest are these : 'It might have been.' " Because of this liberal endowment of school lands, it is not surprising that the people of Ohio, for more than two decades of her beginning history, believed that the revenues resulting from the lease of their lands would provide ample funds for the maintenance of the public schools. On this account the principle of taxing all the property of all the people to pay for the education of all the children of all the people was not recognized until 1825, when "An act to provide for the support and better regulation of common schools" became a law. The passage of this law marks the first important event in Ohio's educational history. It is true that, four years before this, another law was enacted. But this law was wholly permissive in character and local in application. By - 457 - 458 - HISTORY OF OHIO its provisions the people might unite in building a schoolhouse and in employing a teacher, and under certain conditions and restrictions, might levy a small tax to make up the deficiency due to the inability of some parents to pay their share of the school expenses. The law of 1825 was to a certain extent, at least, mandatory in its provisions. Townships must be laid off into school districts ; school officers must be elected to manage the schools ; teachers must be certificated to teach by a county board of examiners; and most important and significant of all, a tax on one-half mill upon the property of the several counties of the state was to be levied to produce an annual fund for the instruction of all classes of youth in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other branches of a common education. It is impossible for us who live in these days of advanced educational sentiment and unusual educational opportunity, when school taxes, in addition to the regular levy authorized by law, are so frequently voted by the people, to realize what a tax of even one-half mill meant to the pioneers of Ohio one hundred years ago. But when we recall the fact that the people at that time had had no experience or training to lead them to realize the necessity of public education, it will be seen that this first step in taxation for education marked a great advance in public school legislation. And it is not at all surprising that for several years after the passage of the law it was but partially enforced in many counties of the state because of a public sentiment hostile to its provisions. The passage of this law was due to the tactful and political management of the friends of education in the legislature, who united their forces with the friends of internal improvements. As a result, canals and public schools were provided for in Ohio by the same legislature—the former on February 4, and the latter of February 5, 1825. The sight of an Ohio Canal, even though abandoned because its days of usefulness are gone, should still arouse in the minds of all who love the public schools grateful memories of that day nearly one hundred years ago when the support of the friends of canals made possible the beginning of the public school system of Ohio. Among the many who had a part in the enactment of this important law, history records that the credit for its enactment is largely due to Ephraim Cutler of Washington County, Caleb Atwater of Pickaway County, and Nathan Guilford of Hamilton County. On the date of its passage, Mr. Cutler and Mr. Guilford were standing side by side. The former had been the devoted friend of the clause in the state Constitution by which Ohio was forever dedicated to the policy of encouraging schools and education. The latter had acted as chairman of the Joint-Committee which had prepared the bill and carefully guided it through both houses of the Legislature. Both were growing old. Both had worked hard and persistently to secure the establishment of a school system which would provide equal educational opportunity to all the children of the state, rich and poor alike. At this supreme moment in the lives of both, Ephraim Cutler turned to Nathan Guilford and expressed the joy of his heart by reverently repeating the words of Simeon : "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word ; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation !" In 1838 the school law was amended to include township supervision of the schools by the township clerk and county supervision by the county auditor. This change in the law was made upon the recommendation of Samuel Lewis, the first state superintendent of schools for Ohio, who had entered upon his duties soon after his election by the Legislature on March 31, 1837, for the term of one year. The fact that he traveled in this one year more than 1,500 miles, almost wholly on horseback, and visited forty county seats and 300 schools is evidence of a devotion to duty, which has never been excelled, if equalled in Ohio or any other state. His observation deeply impressed him with the entire lack of organization in the schools and with the imperative need of some kind EDUCATION AND THE PRESS - 459 of supervision to meet this lack. Had he been permitted to continue his work for the term of five years—the time to which his appointment had been extended, there can be no doubt that under his inspiriting leadership the changes in the law, which had been made upon his recommendation, would have resulted in much good to the schools. But failing health compelled his resignation in 1839, after which the deep interest which he had aroused in public education began to decline. Following much debate in the Legislature on the question of continuing the office of state superintendent, it was finally decided, March 23, 1840, to merge it with that of secretary of state, where it remained for a period of thirteen years. While the law of 1838, the amendments to it, and the laws enacted within the fifteen years which followed were all indicative of attempts to improve existing educational conditions, none of them exercised any large influence in the educational progress of the state. Following the adoption of the second state Constitution in 1851, came renewed activity on the part of the friends of the public schools for advanced school legislation. This resulted in the enactment of the school law of 1853—another important event in Ohio's educational history. This law provided for a state school tax ; free education .for all the youth of the state ; a fund of one-tenth of a mill yearly for the purpose of furnishing school libraries and apparatus to all the schools of the state ; the election of a state commissioner of common schools ; a township board of education composed of a representative from each of the three sub-districts, into which each township was divided, and the election of local directors for each sub-district. This two-fold system of administering the country schools which was intended to give the township board general supervision and the local directors the local control of the schools, was undoubtedly a compromise between the theories of centralization of authority in administration and of "Home Rule" in neighborhood affairs, represented on the one hand by those who favored the township as the unit of organization and on the other hand by those who insisted that the sub-district should he the educational unit. For forty years this "double-headed" system was the source of constant misunderstanding and friction and when the "Workman Law," which repealed its provisions, and substituted therefor a township board of education to have entire control of the schools of the township, was enacted in 1892 to take effect in 1893, the hardest fought educational battle ever waged in Ohio was begun, to continue with increased bitterness for a number of years. This long contest in the Legislature and afterwards in the courts to test the constitutionality of the law so ably and successfully defended by its author, Honorable Charles H. Workman, then of Ada, now of Mansfield, Ohio, constitutes another important event in Ohio's educational history. Perhaps I may be pardoned for relating something of the unwritten history connected with this contest in which I was compelled to have a part on account of occupying, at the time, the position of state commissioner of common schools. In fact, even before entering upon the official duties connected with the office, I went to Columbus in obedience to the request of the Ohio State Teachers' Association, as its representative, to help in every way possible in securing the desired legislation. "The Workman Law," like most school legislation, was a compromise. It was the original intention of the author of the bill and of those who were working with him, to provide for a township board of education elected at large by the voters of the entire township and for supervision of the schools, either township, district, or county. But the sub-district system was so deeply rooted in the educational policy of the state that the best that could be secured was a township board, composed of one representative from each sub-district elected by the people of the sub-district. It was impossible to secure more than permissive super- 460 - HISTORY OF OHIO vision and the "open door" to consolidation and centralization of the schools, all of which it was believed would follow in due time, when the schools were reorganized under the township boards. In this form the law was finally enacted to take effect in April, 1893, instead of 1892 as originally intended, because the date of its passage, March 14, 1892, was too late to arrange for the election in April. Immediately in all sections of the state there arose strong opposition to this law which eliminated more than 33,000 local school directors representing the more than 11,000 sub-districts, abolished by its provisions. Many of the best people in Ohio, who were deeply interested in the success of the schools, opposed the law because they feared that under the township board their sub-district school would be neglected. All the petty politicians who were interested in office-holding, however, insignificant, joined in the opposition. Many teachers believed that under the new organization salaries would be levelled downward and, therefore, used their influence against the law. As a result, it was exceedingly difficult to keep the law from being repealed before the date of its going into effect, as the Legislature which enacted it held a second session in 1893. In 1894 the newly elected Legislature contained many members who were hostile to the new law and repeated attempts were made to repeal it. But as the result of an appeal that it should at least have a fair trial, no changes were made. It was hoped that this "trial" would so educate the people as to the value of the provisions of the law, that the opposition would grow less. But, on the contrary, when the succeeding Legislature convened in 1896 the opposition was stronger and more determined than ever. And now comes the relation of an incident Which has not been made public before, and which had much to do with saving the "Workman Law" from repeal. Since I happen to be the sole surviving witness to this incident, it seems not inappropriate that it should be related in this connection. The other witness was the late Senator Adolph Pluemer of Cincinnati who in the formation of the standing committees of the Senate for 1896 was made chairman of the committee on public schools. He at once manifested a friendly attitude which was encouraged in every way possible. When the bill repealing the "Workman Law," which had passed the House by a large majority, reached the Senate, it was referred to the committee of which Senator Pluemer was chairman. He at once asked for advice as to its disposition and received the suggestion that it was most desirable to hold it in the committee as long as possible. This he proceeded to do with the aid of other friendly members associated with him. This action so angered some of the members of the House, who were determined upon the immediate repeal of the law, that they planned to resort to rather drastic measures to accomplish their purpose. One of these measures was to prepare a bill to abolish the office of state commissioner of common schools as a punishment for the efforts the office had made to secure the enactment of the law in the first place and to keep it from being repealed after its enactment. Another of these measures is indicated in the following recital of the substance of a conversation with Senator Pluemer who called me late one night to meet him in his room at the hotel. As soon as I saw him, I realized by his excited manner that something unusual had happened. He at once asked if I knew what some of the House were planning to do with me, having in mind the bill already mentioned to abolish the office of school commissioner. Upon being assured that I was not at all disturbed over that matter, he then asked whether I knew what proposition had been made to him. Receiving a negative reply, he then proceeded to tell how he had been urged to report the bill to repeal the "Workman Law," for passage, accompanied by the threat that unless such action were promptly taken, what was known as the Cincinnati Waterworks Bill would be EDUCATION AND THE PRESS - 461 defeated in the House. This bill provided for a large bond issue to finance a much needed relief in Senator Pluemer's home city a measure in which the entire Hamilton County delegation was vitally interested and for the passage of which they were all pledged to use their influence. Realizing fully the dilemma in which Senator Pluemer was placed, f eeling that the time had come when he could not be expected to hold out any longer, and •deeply regretting that the new township law for which Ohio had waited so long and for which so many had so earnestly worked, must at last be repealed and all be lost, it is not difficult to imagine the grateful surprise and the happy relief which came with the statement from the plucky chairman of the committee on public schools—"I don't know what you think about it, but I told 'em to go to h - -1." No change of destination was suggested. The bill in which the Cincinnati friends were so much interested became a law. The "Workman Law" was not repealed, and was assured two more years of trial. As a rule, the enemies of good laws are much more persistent in their opposition to them than the friends of such laws are active in their support. This was true of the "Workman Law." As a result, when the Legislature again met in January, 1898, the opposition was so strong, united, and determined that there seemed to be no hope of saving the law from repeal. It was in this crisis that Senator William G. Brorein of Auglaize County came to the rescue by introducing what was known as the "Brorein Amendment," which met with the approval of the friends of the law and at the same time secured the support of a large majority of its opponents. Senator Brorein had served as a member of the House for two previous sessions, was friendly to the spirit of the "Workman Law," but recognized that something must be done to save it from repeal. The "Brorein Amendment" provided for the election, in each subdistrict of two sub-directors who, in addition to the director who was a member of the township board, constituted a board of sub-directors for the sub-district. These boards were authorized to select teachers for their sub-districts subject to confirmation by a majority of the township board of education. If the first selection failed of confirmation, a second selection could be made. If the selections thus made were not so confirmed before the third Monday of August, then the township board proceeded to elect the teachers. By means of this Amendment the principle of the "Workman Law" was saved and the real school organization kept under the control of the township board of education. It was soon discovered that the sub-district boards were without authority to act in the election of teachers, except as a committee of recommendation, and in some instances the amendment was not enforced. To an entire stranger like Doctor Brittain, who directed the school survey of Ohio in 1913, it was incomprehensible that such an amendment could ever have been made a part of the school law of the state as the "sub-directors" provided for in the amendment were little more than "figureheads." That was the intention. Had it not been for this amendment, however, the "Workman Law" would have been repealed, Ohio would have gone back either to the old law of 1853, or perhaps to the sub-district system, and the present school law, under which we are now making such substantial progress, would have been an impossibility. This law whose provisions are known to all of us, was enacted as was the law of 1853, following the adoption of a new constitution which provided for the reorganization of the school system of the state. It marks the last important event in Ohio's educational history and is worthy of the cordial support which it is generally receiving. But the battle, which prepared the way for the enactment and enforcement of the present law was fought and won from 1892-98, when the "Workman Law" was on trial. In addition to the legislation, already referred to, which makes distinct epochs in Ohio's educational history, mention should be made of 462 - HISTORY OF OHIO three other laws of more than ordinary importance in the educational development of the state. In 1892, the same year in which the "Workman Law" came into existence, another law which was destined to exercise a large influence for good in the country schools and in the extension of high school privileges to country boys and girls was enacted. This law took its name from the Honorable Alexander Boxwell who for so many years so ably represented Warren County in the House of Representatives. The plan upon which the law was based had been in operation in Warren County for a number of years previous to the enactment of the law. Its provisions for examination and graduation of the pupils of the country schools and for township and county commencements led thousands of boys and girls to start on the road to a high school and college education and created a strong educational sentiment in the country districts in favor of high schools. This law was the first step toward securing equality of high school opportunity for country boys and girls and logically led to the law providing for the classification and inspection of all the high schools of the state. The Normal School Law, enacted in 1902, marks the beginning of state training for teachers in Ohio. The colleges established by the provisions of that law at Miami University and Ohio University, and the additional colleges established by subsequent legislation at Ohio State University, Bowling Green and Kent are proving their worth as most important factors in our educational system, worthy in every way of the most cordial support. To all who appreciate the self-sacrificing work of worthy teachers who devote their lives to the services of the state at salaries entirely incommensurate with the services required and rendered, it is most gratifying that Ohio has recently enacted a law providing for a retirement fund for such teachers. This retirement fund is not a gratuity—"Something given freely or without recompense." It is not a charity—"Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy suffering for their relief." It is simply a belated payment of the interest on a debt long past due from the state to overworked and underpaid teachers who have done more for the physical, mental and moral welfare of the state than any other class of citizens in the state. The Ohio law combines all that is best in such legislation. It is being wisely and satisfactorily administered. It should have the most cordial support of all citizens who believe in justice to teachers. It must not be repealed. It cannot—it will not be repealed if the membership of this great association remain loyal to the law whose enactment was made possible by their united efforts. In securing all the effective legislation which has been enacted in the seventy-five years of its history the Ohio State Teachers' Association has had a most important part. Only those who are ignorant of what this association has stood for and helped to accomplish in the enactment, maintenance, and execution of wise school legislation, will ever question its influence or criticize its work. But it is not alone through its wholesome influence upon the school legislation of the state that the Ohio State Teachers' Association has established a record for meritorious service. In 1851, only four years after its organization in 1847, Lorin Andrews, chairman of the executive committee, resigned his position as superintendent of the Massillon schools to enter upon the work of a "Common School Missionary." His only hope of financial reward was in the exceedingly small compensation offered at that time by teachers' institutes. At the meeting held in Cleveland, just seventy-two years ago, the work of Mr. Andrews was cordially approved and a resolution was unanimously passed to sustain him financially. This resolution was in reality a pledge of financial support, which the members of the association sacredly kept by contributing from their small salaries the money required to keep their EDUCATION AND THE PRESS - 463 "missionary" in the field. No other state association has such a record for unselfish service in behalf of the schools. In this service so generously rendered, it is unthinkable that Lorin Andrews and those who supported him, ever thought of, much less talked of "selling education" —an unfortunate phrase so often heard in these modern days of such "mental poverty" as seems to necessitate the use of the language of Wall Street in discussing such a spiritual process as education--a condition resulting, perhaps, from the fact that in recent years we seldom asked what we think or how we feel about anything, but what our "reaction" is. Forty years ago, the Ohio State Teachers' Association, under the leadership of the late Mrs. D. L. Williams, inaugurated the State Teachers' Reading Circle movement which was destined to grow to include all sections of the country. In the absence of carefully kept records in many states and counties, it is not possible to determine with certainty or even to estimate with any degree of accuracy how many teachers have availed themselves of the excellent opportunity furnished by reading circle courses of study as an efficient means of professional growth. There can be no doubt, however, that hundreds of thousands of teachers have been directly benefited in this way and that many additional thousands have, in a smaller measure, been indirectly helped. In Ohio, the "Mother State," the average annual enrollment of teachers who have read with more or less thoroughness one or more of the courses adopted, since the work was organized, is at least five thousand. It is impossible to estimate the good which has been accomplished by the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle. Its courses of reading have always been helpful. It has been and is now worthy of the cordial support of all the superintendents and teachers of the state. Unfortunately the "craze for credits," which has been sweeping over the country, seems in some instances to carry with it the presumption that, when sufficient "credits" have been received to secure a life license to teach, there will be no further need of reading or study. As a result teachers who act upon this presumption ignore the claims of the reading circle as well as other means of continuing their professional growth. To all such teachers "credits" are in reality discredits, not only to themselves, but also, to the training which produced them. The graduate of a teachers' college or any other institution of learning who has no desire to grow is a real menace to the teaching profession and to the cause of education—much more dangerous to the educational welfare of the state than a teacher with a fewer "credits," but with such a hunger for knowledge as to lead to constant reading and study. The important problem of preparing teachers to begin the work of teaching has long received attention and has been solved, to a fair degree, by the establishment of county and state schools for that purpose. The equally important and still more difficult problem of maintaining the growth of teachers after they have been prepared to begin has not yet received the attention it merits and has not been solved in a satisfactory manner. The State Reading Circle is one of .the best agencies in existence to aid in the solution of this problem. The Ohio State Teachers' Association should pledge anew its loyalty to its own child and resolve anew to use all its influence collectively and through its individual membership to sustain the work of both the Ohio Teachers' and the Ohio Pupils' Reading Circles. It is well on this occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Ohio State Teachers' Association' to take a little time to think of what the past has given to the present and reverently to recognize the debt of gratitude we owe to the unselfish souls, whose devotion to duty in the years that are gone, has made possible the heritage of educational opportunities which we now enjoy. In 1876 the late Dr. Emerson E. White, one of Ohio's stalwart educational leaders, in his informing and interesting history of teachers' associations said : "The Ohio Teachers' Association has a history of which every friend 464 - HISTORY OF OHIO of education may justly be proud. No other body of teachers has ever undertaken such enterprises for the advancement of education, and it is believed that no other has exerted a stronger or more salutary influence." To this fine tribute we can give most hearty approval. In these days of greatly increased membership, with enlarged opportunity and corresponding responsibility, may the Ohio State Teachers, Association remain true to the ideals of unselfish service which have characterized its seventy-five years of history. COMMISSIONERS OF COMMON SCHOOLS