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242 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Avas passed by the Ohio Legislature in February, 1849, and during the
first term of the schools of this city under the graded system. As soon
as an authenticated copy of the law could be procured from Columbus,
the required "Avritten notices Avere posted up in three public places,"
calling upon the qualified electors to assemble at the expiration of ten
days and vote for or against the adoption of the special law.
When the election occurred, the law AVIIS adopted Avithout a dissenting
vote, and, Avith scarcely a Avord of change, remained the school IIIAV
of the city until superseded by the codified school IHAVS of 1873. The
adoption of this laAV at this time gave a new impetus to Avhat had already
been begun. Increasing the number of directors from three to six.
enlarging and defining the poAvers of the IICAV board, and, best of all,
providing by equal taxation upon all the property for the maintenance
of good schools, open alike to the poor and the rich, and free to every
nationality and every race.
Although the adoption of the special laAV at this time did not directly
aid. in solving the more professional problems before alluded to, it AVIIS
exceedingly inspiriting to teachers to feel that a fairer day Avas dawning
upon their labors and prospects than they had ever before knoAvn.
The neAV members elected under the special la.w, Earl Bill, David
Souter and F. T. Barney, cordially concurred in the grading of the
schools as they found them organized under the former members, F. M.
Follett, H. F. Merry and Cuyler Leonard, and noAV, together, constituting
the new board.
During the latter part of 1850 there was added to the foregoing
grades an unclassified school. It was found after a year of experience
Avith four grades, that pupils most regular in attendance and most industrious
in their studies, were continually interrupted and hindered
in progress by accessions to the classes of pupils who Avere many months
behind them in attainments. Many children were sent into the schools
Avith the full knoAvledge that they would remain but the winter months,
or for less time, and AA'ere exceedingly reluctant to undertake the regular
Avork prescribed for the grades.
Further, if proficiency in the studies Avas rigidly made the basis of
admission or assignment to grades, a great diversity of ages would be
brought together—children, unlike in sympathies, must be placed side
by side, thereby seriously increasing the labors of the teacher both with
reference to the discipline of the school and the instruction of classes,
and, at the same time, abridging the value of both. Further, wherever
a thousand children are collected from the entire population, there will
be cases of exceptional home training, or lack of average gifts to master
all the studies, or of strong and deep hostility to Avholesome authority,
which are far better managed in a special school under a teacher with
special ability for such varied duties. The state recognizes the sane'
general principle in establishing separate schools for blind, mute and
imbecile children. Blameless, yet unfortunate, these children are so
unlike those in the schools at home that they cannot then* be profitably
instructed, and are so unlike each other that special instruction must