T HE foundation of the Common School System of Ohio was laid by the Continental Congress of 1785. When the original states ceded to the Confederacy their claims upon the wilderness of the Northwest, Congress provided for the survey and disposition of the lands which were to be opened for settlement, and by the law of May 20, 1785, there was reserved from sale "lot number sixteen of every township, for the maintenance of public schools within the said township." Each township was to be six miles square, thus containing thirty-six square miles or sections. The section or lot number sixteen is one of the four at the center of the township. A township under the United States survey contained 23,040 acres of land, divided into thirty-six sections, each of which embraced 640 acres, one of which, as stated, was reserved for school purposes. When Congress passed the Ordinance of 1787, it therein declared that "religion, morality and knowledge being essential to good government, and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be encouraged." When the First Territorial Legislature assembled at Cincinnati in 1799, Governor Arthur St. Clair advised "attention to early education and instruction in religious principles for the rising generation," In pursuance of his recommendation the subject of public schools occupied the serious attention of the Legislature. But, excepting a resolution of instruction to the Delegate in Congress, William Henry Harrison, directing him to secure a proper title to the school lands which Congress had donated, no definite provision for education was made. In a former chapter (V) we have seen how vigilant and successful the Constitutional Convention of 1802 was in providing for the means of education in the new State, and how it embodied in the organic law the sentiment of the Ordinance of 1787, that, "Schools and the means of instruction shall forever be encouraged by legislative provision." The first Governor, Edward Tiffin, was a pronounced friend of education. In his first message he congratulated the State upon its large possessions for educational purposes, and in his second annual message prominence was given to the subject of schools. From his time to that of Governor Morrow in 1823, every Governor dwelt upon the necessity of the establishment of a system that would give education to all. It was originally the opinion of Congress that the lands donated to Ohio would be sufficient to create a fund which would furnish the means of establishing an educational system. But the experience after Ohio became a State soon demonstrated that this could not be done. The lands were wasted, leased at shamefully low rates, and at times under scandalous circumstances. The friends of education soon became convinced that no fund sufficient to support a general system of schools could be expected or raised from the proceeds of the school lands. They began to prepare the public mind for legislation that would establish a school system that would give to every child in the State an education which, at least would be equal to the everyday demands of life. The history of schools in Ohio up to 1825 is a dreary Even after the hardships of pioneer life had one. |