Free School Clarion - Massillon, O. January 1, 1848

“As the teacher so is the school - as the pay so is the teacher.”

This issue lists the name of Thereon Noble of Akron as being involved in the formation of the Ohio State Teachers’ Association and the Rev. J.D. Taylor of Bath, O. as President pro tem of the Convention.

Samuel Lane lists Thereon A. Noble as : The County Auditor - 1842-1848;  Akron’s first Librarian serving until 1875;  His house burnt down in 1875

This was the meeting which elected to form the first public school teacher’s union in the US, The Ohio State Teacher’s Union is a direct successor to this organization.

Ohio Observer - Hudson, Ohio January 12, 1848  3:3

STATE SCHOOL CONVENTION.

This convention was held at Akron on the 30^th and 31^st ult.

Delegates were present from the several counties of Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina, Ashland, Stark, Cuyahoga and Hamilton, and a respectable audience was present at each session of the Convention.

After several animated discussions upon the end and objects of the Convention, a Constitution was approved and adopted; and a State Teachers Association was organized, whose aim is to promote the interests of Schools in Ohio, and the elevation of the Teachers profession.  Hon. S. Galloway, of Ross county, present Secretary of State, was elected President for the ensuing year.

Ohio Observer - Hudson, Ohio - February 23, 1848 - 3:1

The School Law. - The act for the better regulation of Schools in the town of Akron, has been extended, by Legislature, to all the cities in the State, except Cincinnati.

Ohio Observer - Hudson, Ohio  - February 23, 1848 3:1

Ohio Senate defeats a bill proposed to provide an education to black and mulatto children.

AMERICAN DEMOCRAT - Akron, March 9, 1848

GENERAL LAWS

Provide for extending the provisions of act entitled an act for the support and better regulation of common schools in the town of Akron, and the amendatory acts thereto, to the cities and incorporated towns of this state..

AMERICAN DEMOCRAT - Akron, March 9, 1848 - 3:1

TO TEACHERS & FRIENDS OF EDUCATION IN OHIO

A Teachers Institute for teachers of schools of the highest grade, lectures, etc. will be held in Akron from 14^th June to 16^th August.  The cost for room, board and lectures $17.

AMERICAN DEMOCRAT - Akron, March 9, 1848 - 3:2

SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS

On 24^th February, 4 schools in Stow opened their doors to the public - 5 schools in Bath did the same on 26^th.  

AMERICAN DEMOCRAT - Akron, May 11, 1848

The First Annual Akron School Report to the Community

Ohio State Teachers Association - Dayton, Ohio June 2^, 1848

First Semi-Annual Meeting

Mr. H.H. Barney then presented the following resolutions

We the undersigned householders of the town of Massillon. . . Under the Statute. . . February 24^th 1848. . . for the admission of colored children into the common schools. . . would respectfully present to said Directors as requested by the above statute (in writing) our objection to the admission of colored childs into said Union School and to the. . . benefit thereof as any part of the. . . furthers. . .  as might give by. . . Statute that the said colored Children be . . . the privilege and benefit of said Union School erected express fully for white children of said Town of Massillon. . .   That the colored children that have here received into said school may be discharged hence from upon the receipt pf this our objection.@ Massillon Nov 22d 1848 A

AMERICAN DEMOCRAT - Akron, November 25, 1848 2:4

To Friends of Common Schools

Concerns the hiring of H.K. Smith to act as County Superintendent of Summit County schools - even though Legislation in Ohio doesn’t support (paid by the state) it in law - to visit each school in the county, to compile statistics, talk to teachers, students, parents, etc. to promote education throughout the County.  The job is designed to run for 2 weeks.  M.D. Leggett and J. D. Taylor will pay Mr. Smith out of their own pockets for his service.

OHIO SCHOOL JOURNAL - Columbus, O. January 1849

Columbus, December 2, 1848

First Annual Report of the Executive Committee for the Year 1848

AReorganization of Schools in Towns

Gentlemen who have been employed to conduct Teachers= Institutes, have invariably presented the subject of Union Schools in all the counties they have visited; and it is believed that important results have already grown out of their labors. Several towns have already adopted the plan of classifying the pupils, and bringing all the schools under one uniform and corrected system, while others are making the preliminary arrangements to introduce the same general method;

APublic Sentiment

It is believed that there is a strong and growing public sentiment in favor of all practical improvements in the system of education in our State. The committee have been sustained and encouraged in the various efforts they have made in the past year, by private citizens, teachers and others, far beyond their expectations. In many sections of the State, it only needs to be known that a measure is really an improvement, and that it is practicable and the means for introducing it are speedily provided.

Akron Eagle  - March 15, 1849 1:2

“I was never in the County, nor personally acquainted with any one living here, until I was invited to attend a Teachers’ Institute held in Akron during the Spring of 1846. At that Institute there was a unanimous call by the members for another to be held in the Fall, and I agreed to return and assist in conducting the next session of the Institute. . . Before the beginning of the second session of the Institute I moved into the County and commenced my labors in the Akron Schools. The Court of Common Please was in session when I came into this place; from that court I received the appointment to the office of County Examiner, against my expressed wish. . .  M.D. Leggett”

SEC. 2.  It shall be the duty of the teacher to conform to the provision of the seventh section of the amendatory act to the law for the regulation of common schools, passed March 16, 1839; and it shall be hereafter the duty of the district clerk... to ascertain the portion to be paid by those sending to school, to exclude from the calculation and apportionment the attendance of those scholars whose admittance into the district schools is secured by the proviso to said section. [ see Ohio School Law 3-16-1848 ]

SEC 3.  It shall be the duty of the teacher, on presenting to the township treasurer an order for the payment of services as such, to accompany the same with an abstract of said record, for the period of service covered by said order, showing the whole number of pupils enrolled, and the average daily attendance, distinguishing the number of males and females; and, also, the further statement of the amount of wages to be paid to such teacher, for the period aforesaid, from other sources than public funds.

AN ACT

To amend the act entitled an act for the support and better regulation of common schools, and to create permanently the office of superintendent,@ passed March 7, 1838, and the acts amendatory thereto.

SEC. 1.  Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio.  That it is hereby made the duty of the district clerk ... to make an estimate, as near as possible, the amount of money required in his district, in addition to what shall be furnished by the [The State]...; if there shall be a deficiency to provide at least six months good schooling to all the youth in said district who are by law entitled to the benefits of common schools, during the ensuing year, [the district clerk] shall cause public notice to be given of the amount required; by posting the same in writing on the door of the common school house... at least fifteen days before the second Monday of April, annually; and it shall be lawful for the qualified voters of each common school district... to assemble ... at the school house... and there to express themselves for or against school tax... either by ballot or otherwise; and if it shall be found that a majority of the qualified voters present... are in favor of school tax, the result shall be certified to the auditor...  who shall assess the amount ... upon all the property of such district subject to taxation, not exceeding one mill on the dollar, which shall be collected by the county treasurer... but if there shall be a majority... opposed to school tax, then there shall be no further school tax assessed for that year...

SEC 2.  That it shall be the duty of the school directors... to meet on the second Monday of April, annually, at the school house... for the purpose of ascertaining the will of the qualified voters in reference to school tax, as pointed out in the first section of this act...

            SEC 3.  That all acts or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this, are hereby repealed.

SEC. 4. &c.

Summit Beacon - Akron March 28, 1849 2:4

The Akron School System - seems to enjoy an enviable reputation abroad.  A Lecture in reference thereto was delivered at Warren, Trumbull County a fortnight since.  The people of that town have petitioned their town council in favor of its adoption and their petition has been complied with.  An election has been ordered under its provisions for a Board of Education.

Whatever may be the merits of our system, many feel a strong disinclination to avail themselves thereof, so far as the high school is concerned, on account of the unsuitable character of the building in which the High School is held for the reception of a large number of Scholars.  It will not admit suitable ventilation; and those who are confined within its walls, at that age when full play should be given to all the functions of the physical system, must suffer both in body and mind.  We know that a grievous burden of taxation is borne already by our citizens and that a formidable debt stands unpaid; but it occurs to us that it would be better to suffer it to go unpaid for a time and make a noble effort to provide a building that should be at once a model for utility and an ornamental and honor to the town.  One to which parents would gladly send their children; feeling assured that its image would not come over their bright, joyous spirits like a gloomy, dark shadow.

Summit Beacon - May 2, 1849 1:2-4

TO THE TOWN COUNCIL OF AKRON

The Board of Education of the Town of Akron,

present to your honorable body this its

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

Since the last annual report of this Board

Summit Beacon - Akron May 9, 1849 2:1

From the Ohio School Journal

OHIO STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

The second Semi-annual Meeting of this Association will be attended in Springfield, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 3^rd and 4^th days of July next.  The session will be opened with a public address by Hon.S. Galloway, President, at 10 oclock, A.M. of the first day.  Several other addresses will be given during the session.

Reports will also be presented upon the best modes of teaching several branches of study, and upon other topics connected with schools and education.  The following questions will also be discussed...

Can a through professional education of Teachers be secured without the establishment of one or more State Normal Schools?

What action ought this Association to take for the purpose of securing a through revision of the School Laws of the State?

... practical Teachers and active friends of education, Educational Societies and Teachers= Association are respectfully invited to send delegates.

A full program will be published as soon as the arrangements for the exercises are completed.  Editors, friendly to the objectives of the Association, are requested to copy this notice.  By order, A.D. Lord, Chairman of the Executive com.  Columbus, May 1^st, 1849.

SEC 3.  That when ever a parent or guardian sending any scholar to any district school shall fail or neglect to furnish his or her proportion of quota of fuel as maybe ordered by the directors of such district, for the use of such school, and the same shall have been provided by the directors or their order, it shall be the duty of the directors to make out an account in writing, under their hands, of the quantity of such fuel so provided as aforesaid together will the value thereof or price paid for the same, and if such accounts are not voluntarily paid by the person or persons so charged therewith, the treasurer of such district is hereby authorized and it shall be his duty, to collect such accounts of the person or persons charged with the same as aforesaid, in the same manner that any charge or account for tuition is authorized to be collected in the seventh section of the aforesaid act, passed March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine.

JOHN G. BRESLIN

Speaker of the House of Representatives

BREWSTER RANDALL

Speaker of the Senate

March 6, 1849.

Summit Beacon - Akron May 23, 1849 1:5

AN ACT

To amend as act entitled an act for the support and better regulation of Common Schools, and to create permanently the office of Superintendent; passed March 7, 1838, and the acts amendatory thereto.

SEC 1.  Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That in all cases in any township in this State, the trustees shall have heretofore for any cause failed to lay off the whole or any part of the territory of their respective townships into school districts in accordance with the statutes for such purpose provided, said trustee shall have power to do so at any time hereafter in the manner prescribed in the fifth section of the said act, passed March 7, 1838.

Summit Beacon - Akron May 30, 1849 3:2

THE NEW SCHOOL LAW - making provision for the education of Blacks in separate school districts has been carried into effect in Columbus, as we observe by a notice of the Board of Education in the Journal.  The Board resolved that it was inexpedient to admit colored children into the public schools of said city.  They then declared the city one school district for colored persons, and gave notice of a meeting for adult colored tax-payers residing in said district to meet and select school directors, &c.

Akron Eagle - Akron June 14, 1849 2:4

Town Council: Monday evening June 11, 1848 the new town council assembled at the Council Room where the oath of office was administered.

INAUGURAL [ Gen. Lucius Bierce, Mayor of Akron ]

Gentlemen of the Council. . .     Good morals, and sobriety . . . Cleanliness . . purifying of all the streets and alleys. . .

Akron Eagle - Akron June 22, 1849 2:4