OHIO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.

then the quantities themselves must be equal, is also true, or 1000 = 1; and so of any other quantities-a palpable absurdity. Therefore, either our reasoning or premises must be incorrect; and as no flaw can be found in the reasoning or minor premise, our major premise, that (1000)° and 1o are each equal to unity, is incorrect.

I would reason, in such cases, as follows: In the equation a2 — a2, there are three factors, and only three on each side, viz: a, a and 1. Dividing by a, removes one a, and leaves a×1. Dividing by a again, cancels the remaining a, and leaves unity alone; and there cannot possibly be any other factor. The zero power of a quantity is used as a convenient method of showing what were the original factors of an algebraic expression; and when we attempt to make a mathematical principle of it, it will always produce absurdities, no matter how we attempt to reason on it. CLARK BRADEN.

Orwell, Ashtabula Co., O.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON THE SCHOOL LAW.

BY THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.

QUESTION 3. (S.) Is it possible, under the School Laws of the State, for Township Boards so to distribute the school funds as to give the small districts an equal number of months of school with the larger ones? There are several sub-districts in this (Pike) county, which pay heavy taxes, but enumerate few youth. They do not receive funds sufficient to sustain schools half as long as do the more populous adjoining districts, which pay much less for the support of schools. Must the Board, in all cases, distribute funds according to the enu

meration?

ANSWER. Section 24 of the School Law, as enacted in 1853, was explicit in requiring that distribution of funds, applicable to the payment of Teachers, should be in proportion to the youth enumerated. Its language was, "all school funds, made applicable to the payment of Teachers only, shall be distributed to the several sub-districs, and fractional parts thereof, in the township in proportion to the enumeration of scholars, with the exception of so much of the township tax as may have been levied and reserved by the Board for sustaining Teachers in the Central or High Schools; and such school funds as arise from the sale or rents of section sixteen, or other lands in lieu thereof, shall be distributed to the localities to which such funds belong."

This rule worked great injustice and inconvenience in many townships in all parts of the State. In some sub-districts, large sums of money were accumu. lated from surplus funds, over and above what was required to maintain their schools seven months in the year. In others, the amount received was not sufficient to maintain the schools for half that time. This arose from the inequality of the sub-districts in respect to the number of youth which they included.

But this evil was entirely removed by the amendment of this section, passed April 17th, 1857. The township tax which shall be levied for the continuation of schools after the State fund has been exhausted, may be distributed according to the necessities of the several sub-districts. That is, "those sub-districts which contain comparatively a small number of resident youth of school age, and which, owing to sparseness of population, and other unavoidable obstacles, can not be enlarged without serious inconvenience to the inhabitants," may receive a greater share of the icd-school fund than they could draw on the ground of enumeration.

premise

Let it be understood that the moneys derived from the State levy of one and one-half mills on the dollar valuation, are still to be distributed to the several sub-districts, in proportion to the enumeration of scholars. The distribution of funds raised by the township tax for the continuation of schools after the State fund has been exhausted, are, alone, subject to the discretion of the Township Board of Education.

QUESTION 4. (S.) Can a sub-district, which has a surplus of money applicable to the payment of Teachers, be made to divide with smaller sub-districts in which there is a deficiency?

ANSWER. Inasmuch as section 24 of the general School Law, prior to its amendment, March 17, 1857, required that all funds such as are contemplated in the question, "shall be distributed to the several sub districts, and fractional parts thereof, in the township, in proportion to the enumeration of scholars," and as the operation of this rule has in numerons instances induced in townships the condition which the question implies, it is evident that the interests of education demand a refunding of surplus moneys, that the same may be applied to relieve the necessities of such sub-districts as are deficient in funds. But I know of no law which would "compell" the refunding of moneys received according to the explicit provisions of law. There is, however, a remedy which Township Boards of Education can apply in all such cases of injustice and inconvenience. By the amendment alluded to, Boards have authority to distribute the funds raised by townships for prolonging schools after the State fund has been exhausted, according to the necessities of the several sub-districts. If, therefore, a given sub district has a surplus on hand, the Board may take that fact into account, and at their next distribution make such a division of funds as would equalize the resources of all the sub-districts.

It is true that this remedy is prospective in its operation. It does not furnish immediate relief to the smaller sub-districts. Still, it assures them of relief at the earliest period consistent with the provisions of law.

QUESTION 5. (S.) Does the School Law require that the Superintendent of the schools in a city or village, be examined, and receive a certificate of qualifications to teach, in order to draw his pay from public funds?

ANSWER. No such office as that named in the question, is known to any existing School Law of the State. Section 13 of the general School Law, gives the Township Board authority to appoint one of their own number the Acting Manager of schools for the township. But this is not such an office, precisely, as that named in the inquiry.

That the character of this office may be understood, we must consider its accustomed duties. What, then, are the appropriate labors of a Superintendenl of the schools of a village or city?

In our larger towns, the Superintendent devotes all his time to the generat oversight and management of the schools. He recommends to the Board of Education suitable persons to be employed as Teachers. He frequently visits the several schools, and advises or directs the Teachers in regard to their duties.

OHIO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.

He calls meetings of the Teachers, and gives them instruction in regard to teach. ing and discipline. He examines classes, and promotes pupils from grade to grade, according to their proficiency. He takes oversight of the buildings and other school property. In the smaller towns, he acts not only as a general Su perintendent of the schools, but also as Teacher in some one of the departments; devoting, perhaps, one half his time to each of these branches of labor. In any case, his duties are just what the Board, his employers, may please to make them. No State law creates his office, or defines his duties. In all things, he is subject to the will of the power that gives him his position.

It needs no argument to prove that he is, virtually, the Principal of the schools; that is, the head Teacher, or the foreman of the Teachers, and as such Teacher, it is manifestly proper that he should receive from the proper source a certificate of qualifications. He receives his salary from the same fund, and in the same manner that other Teachers do. And as the law positively forbids the disbursement of this fund to any excepting Teachers holding the proper certifi cate of qualifications, it is plain that the question should receive an affirmative

answer.

Editorial Department.

NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

As noted by us, a circular was issued to the "Teachers of the United States" -a very large family

- calling upon them to meet at the city of Philadelphia on the 26th of August last.

At the appointed time, a large number of the friends of education were pres ent, and organized a "National Teachers' Association." Pres't Lorin Andrews, of Kenyon College, was in attendance from Ohio.

The following Preamble and Constitution were adopted: #

PREAMBLE.

To elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching, and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States, we, whose names are subjoined,

agree to adopt the following

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I. Name.—This association shall be styled the "National Teachers' Association." ART. II. Members.—Any gentleman who is regularly occupied in teaching in a public or private Elementary School, Common School, High School, Academy or Scientific School, College or University, or who is regularly employed as a private tutor, as the Editor of an Educational Journal, or as a Superintendent of Schools shall be eligible to membership.

Applications for admission to membership shall be made, or referred to the Board of Direc tors, or such committee of their own number as they shall appoint; and all who may be recommended by them, and accepted by a majority vote of the members present, shall be entitled to the privileges of the association, upon paying two dollars and signing this constitution.

Upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors, gentlemen may be elected as honorary members by a two-thirds vote of the members present, and as such, shall have all the rights

of regular members, except those of voting and holding office.

Ladies engaged in teaching, may, on the recommendation of the Board of Directors, become honorary members, and shall thereby possess the right of presenting, in the form of written essays (to be read by the Secretary or any other member whom they may select) their views upon the subject assigned for discussion.

Whenever a member of this association shall abandon the profession of teaching, or the business of editing an Educational Journal, or of superintending schools, he shall cease to be a member.

If one member shall be charged by another with immoral or dishonorable conduct, the charge shall be referred to the Board of Directors, or such a committee as they shall appoint, and if the charge shall be sustained by them, and afterwards by two-thirds of the members present at a regular meeting of the association, the person so charged shall forfeit his membership.

There shall be an annual fee of one dollar. If any one shall omit paying his fee for four years, his connection with the association shall cease.

A person eligible to membership, may become a life member by paying, at once, ten dollars, ART. III. Officers.-The officers of this association shall be a President, twelve Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and one Counselor for each State, District or Territory repreented in the association These officers, all of whom shall be elected by ballot, a majority of the votes cast being necessary for a choice, shall constitute the Board of Directors, and shall have power to appoint such committees from their own number as they shall deem expedient.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the association, and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties, and enjoy such privileges as by custom devolve upon and are enjoyed by a presiding officer. In his absence, the first Vice President in order who is present, shall preside; and in the absence of all the Vice Presidents, a pro tempore chairman shall be appointed on nomination, the Secretary putting the question.

The Secretary shall keep a full and just record of the proceedings of the association and of the Board of Directors; shall notify each member of the association or Board; shall conduct such correspondence as the Directors may assign; and shall have his records present at all meetings of the association and of the Board of Directors. In his absence, a Secretary pro tempore may be appointed.

The Treasurer shall receive and hold in safe keeping all moneys paid to the association; shall expend the same in accordance with the votes of the Directors or of the association ; and shall keep an exact account of his receipts and expenditures, with vouchers for the latter, which account he shall render to the Board of Directors prior to each regular meeting of the association; he shall also present an abstract thereof to the association. The Treasurer shall give such bonds for the faithful discharge of his duties as may be required by the Board of Directors.

The Counselors shall have equal power with the other directors in performing the duties belonging to the Board.

The Board of Directors shall have power to fill all vacancies in their own body; shall have in charge the general interests of the association; shall make all necessary arrangements for its meetings; and shall do all in their power to render it a useful and honorable institution. ART. IV. Meetings.-A meeting shall be held in August, 1858, after which the regular meetings shall be held biennially. The place and the precise time of meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall hold their regular meetings at the place and two hours before the time of the assembling of the association, and immediately after the adjournment of the same. Special meetings may be held at such other times and places as the Board or the President shall determine.

ART. V. By-Laws.-By-Laws, not inconsistent with this Constitution, may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the association.

ART. VI. Amendments.-This Constitution may be altered or amended at a regular meeting, by the unanimous vote of the members present; or by a two-thirds vote of the members present, providing that the alteration or amendment have been substantially proposed at a previous regular meeting.

The officers chosen are as follows:

President-Z RICHARDS, Washington City, D. C.

Twelve Vice Presidents-For Ohio, LORIN ANDREWS.
Secretary-J. W. BULKLEY, New York.

Treasurer-T. MCCANN, Delaware.

These officers constitute a Board of Directors, who held a meeting immediate. ly after the adjournment of the National Teachers' Association, and Resolved That the Association hold its next meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the second Wednesday of August, 1858, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

They arranged to have six lecturers appointed for the next meeting-two from the Southern, two from the Western, one from the Middle, and one from the Eastern States. Messrs. Cann, of Georgia, Valentine, of New York, and Sheldon, of Massachusetts, were appointed a committee to secure lecturers from their respective districts.

The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to collect Educational Statistics of the country, and report at the next meeting of the Association, viz: Messrs. D. B. Hagar, Jamaica Plains, Mass.; M. Woolson, Portland, Me.; D. H. Sanborn, Hopkinton, N. H.; C. Pease, Burlington, Vt.; J. Kingsbury, Providence, R. I.; C. Northend, New Britain, Ct.; A. Wilder, New York City; I. Peckham, Newark, N. J.; J. P. Wickersham, Millersville, Pa.; T. M. Cann, Wilmington, Del.; J. N. McJilton, Baltimore, Md.; Z. Richards, District of Colum. bia; J. Binford, Richmond, Va.; C. H. Wiley, Raleigh, N. C.; C. G. Messinger, Charleston, S. C.; B. Mallon, Savanah, Ga.; S. I. C. Swezey, Marion, Ala.; D. McConnell, Florida; Mr. Miss.; D. B. Slosson, Baton Rouge, La.; T. Fanning, Nashville, Tenn.; J, B. Dodd, Lexington, Ky.; W. T. Lucky, Fayette, Mo.; I. Mayhew, Lansing, Mich.; L. Andrews, Gambier, Ohio; G. B. Stone, Indianap. olis, Ind.; D. Wilkins, Bloomington, Ill.; J. G. McMynn, Racine, Wis.; J. L. Enos, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; J. Denman, San Francisco, Cal.; W. Baker, Austin, Texas; E. D. Neil, St. Paul, Minn.; M. Oliphant, Kansas.

Mr. A. J. Rickoff, of Cincinnati, in connection with the several Counselors, was deputed to arrange as to railroad fares to the next meeting, and was appoint. ed chairman of the Local Committee, to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting at Cincinnati, with power to select his own associates on the com mittee.

Welcome, Eastern brethren, to the West,

Mr. Smyth, the School Commissioner, is busily engaged in securing full and prompt returns from the counties, to be embodied in his first Annual Report. He is seeking information in regard to numerous educational facts which hitherto have not been reported. Among these are the transactions of School Examiners, of Teachers' Institutes, the statistics in regard to the Colleges, Female Seminaries, and Academies of Ohio, and a distinct report from the Graded Schools of the State. Already have several circulars been sent out on this errand, and others will soon follow.

Reports from School Examiners are daily received, abounding in interesting and important facts in regard to candidates for the Teachers' profession. For example, in Licking county, of the 642 who have been examined during the past year, 16 have received certificates for two years, 69 for eighteen months, 180 for one year, 231 for six monts, 12 for less than six months, and 134 were rejected.