The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-02

An Interesting Letter from the secre.
tary to the President OF tho Normal
school Board.
WNoNA, February IA, 1860.
1t. G0u. Wm. Holcombe:
MY DEAR Sir On my return two or
three days since, from the east, / found two
favors from you, which had not been for
warded to me, on account of uncertainty of
reaching me, and which I now hasten to
answer.
Perhaps I can reply no better, than by
giving you an outline of what l have seen,
heard and done, in relation to my mission
east. / have been absent just nine weeks,
and have given my whole attention to the
subject in hand at least eight of the nine
weeks, and have succeed, above my expec.
tatlon, in interesting very many who rank
first in educational matters east, in the cause
OF education in Minnesota. The eastern
mind is by no means an Indifferent observer
of our condition and progress here and as
they are so deeply interested in the general
education among themselves as to be doing
far more than ever before TO advance and
perfect it, so nearly the first thing they wish
to hear about in Minnesota, is the State of
education here. And when I was able to
lay before them the fact of the vest domain
appropriated to our free schools, and of the
provision the State has made for the estab-
lishment of Normal Schools, and the action
the Normal Board had taken in regard to
establishing the first Normal School, and
assured them of the character of the emigra..
ton to this State, that we would not be
content to rest till good schools and churches
were fully established, they all, in all places,
were interested to degree that would have
done you good to have seen. Satisfy the
intelligent portion of the eastern community,
who are about to emigrate to the west, sir,
that Minnesota can furnish their children
good educational advantages, and you have
removed their first and prominent objection
to settling iD this new State. Hence the
prompt action of the Legislature of 1858,
and of the Normal Board subsequently, has
already most favorably disposed the public
mind, and when the present legislature shall
have followed up the action of its predeces-
sor in manner which shall leave no doubt
to the most skeptical of what the decided
will of the people of Minnesota is. they have
done as much, and very possibly more to
attract emigration to our State than by
any other measure they can take. This state
ment, to many whose minds are pre-. occupied
with Railroad or Banking bills, may seem
overdrawn. But such, assure you, would
inevitably be the conclusion each would
reach, after having seen and heard as much
as [ have the past few weeks. have en-
joyed the best opportunities with many OF
the first educators in Wisconsin, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, New York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts,, New Hampshire and other
States-have laid before many of them, in
minutia, what the State and Normal Board
have done, and what the line of policy the
Normal Board have marked cut, and am
most happy to assure you, sir, that they ap-
prove in full, SO far, and say that every step,
so far, is so taken with care and prudence
that it need not be retraced, and that no
State has so advisedly and economically
planned in this matter as we. That certainly
is some pay for the labor wei have expended.
But, Sir, the State has gone too far to stop
now. They can neither stop the wheels they
have put in operation, nor retrace the steps
without doing permanent or vast injury
to the State. What has been done, has
become public, more so probably than you
can be aware, and the next action is looked
for with great interest. l ought here to say,
perhaps, that all the best educators, without
single exception, give their opinion that
n ormal school should be entirely distinct
from any higher school, as University or
College. That has been point on which
there has been two opinions. But they are
satisfied now, and those having any connec-
ton are trying to separate and fall back
upon the plan in this State. have had the
names of some fifty teachers presented me
from which to select principal for this
school, After taking time to examine the
qualifications and antecedents of most of
them, found there were only some four left
who would come up to my standard. Twas
happily able to interest them, although each
of them was occupying high position and
enjoying large salaries.
have obtained large amount of facts and
information in regard to Normal Schools,
which 1 trust will be great service to US,
also many documents, and in many respects
have obtained information, which will save
the State many times over, my expenses. 1
have also full particulars in regard to pur-
chase of books, seats and desks, and appara
tus, buildings, heating, &C., &c. Now, Sir,
let the Legislature grant US moderate ap-
preparation, and we will, with Gods blessing,
open such school here, as will prove a
credit and blessing to our young State to
remote time. Very Truly Yours,
JNO. D. FORD,
Secretary pro tenn Normal Board.
P. S.-Please write at once, on receipt,
that l may know where we are nos0 drifting.
I'D F.