Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-06

In 1865 the legislature of Wisconsin
divided the swamp lands and the swamp
land fund into two equal parts-owe set
spart for drainage purposes. and the
other to constitute Normal School Fund
the increase Of which, should be ap-
piled to establishing, supporting and
maintaining normal schools-less 25 per
cent, to be transferred to the common
school fund.
Pursuant TO this act Of the legislature
the Board of Regents of Normal schools,
decided upon the policy of establishing
several schools, and of locating them in
various parts Of tia state. Two such
schools are already in operation, one in
PiatteyilIe in the southwestern part of
the state, and the other in Whitewater.
a building is in progress for another
school in Oshkosh, which will be opened
in the course of year. The northwest
ern pant of the state is yet unprovided
Tor, but, rs soon as the school in Oshkosh
is fairly in operation, the Board of Re-
gents will be ready to receive proposals
from this part of the state; and there is
reason to believe hat the St. Croix Val
ley will stand at least an even chance in
competing for the location of the fourth
Normal School in the state.
The advantages of such a school to
this isolated part of the state must be
obvious to every considerable person. 1t
would be accessible, with trifling expense
of travel to more than two hundred
teachers who could enjoy the highest adj
vantagss for normal education at less cost
than in any other kind of school. Ii
would furnish our common schools with
competent teachers, and make the scpply
equal 10 the demand. 1t would tend to
raise the standard of education in schools
of every grade, and thus inspire our
youth with taste for learning, and am
bition for high culture and attainments.
It would save thousands of dollars every
year, now wasted upon our schools in
consequence of the inefficiency of their
management and instruction.
1t would save thousands of dollars in
the expenses of -tFaFel to those who
would avail themselves of the advantages
of such schools, now located at great dis
tances from this part of the state.
In continuity like ours, destitute of
high educational Institutions. n normal
school supported by an unfailing fund,
and literally supplied with ali the best
appointments of first class institut on,
Would DO much for its advancement and
prosperity in almost every Iaudable call
ing, and much for securing competence
and thrift, and much for stimulating en-
terprise, and difusing general intelli-
gence.
As n6fmal schools are now organized
and conducted, opportunities are offered
for education for other caIIiDgs as well as
for that, for which they were mainly de-
signed. The three departments-the
Normal. the Academic, and the Primary,
may embrace learners in every stage Of
their education, so that the number and
classes Of students are limited only by
the accommodations Of single building.
The cost of site and building in this
part of the state suitable for such school,
including the furniture aud apparatus,
would not probably exceed forty thousand
dollars. For the erection of such build
ing $4,000 can be appropriated from
the Normal school fund, leaving S25, 1000
to be raised by private or public dona-
ton. There is much reason to hope that
,his sum can be secured that some favor
able locality in the St. Croix Valley may
be selected for the establishment Of the
next State Normal School.
The school once established and in OPP
GRAFTON, would be supported by an annu-
nj appropriation from the fund, of eight
or ten thousand .dolIars-the tuition of
students in the Normal department being
without charge. Cannot our good fnan.
ciers asd business men defiss swaps and