Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-16
Petition to the Regents OF the State
Normal school.

OF Otate Normal ScilOolS is OelnS ctcu-
lated for signatures in different localities
in the St. Croix Vallsv:
To the Board of Regents Of Normal Schools
Of the State Of Wisconsin:
The undersigned inhabitants OF st. Croix
and Pierce counties, feeling the need of n
school of higher grade for the education OF
the teachers of our public schools. than any
which is within the means of the people IN
this part If TIN state to establish and MAIN
tain. do hereby respectfully and earnestly
urge upon your honorable Board the cOnsid-
er ,tion of the claims of this part of the state
to the establishment of the fourth State
Normal School, at some point easy OF access
10 the people inhabiting the valley extending
from Lake Pepin on the south. 10 Lake Su-
perior on the north. and separated from the
central parts OF the state 10y large belt Of
woods.
The undersigned beg leave to present 10
your honorable Board some of the grounds
of such claims and also to state tie action al
ready taken by some of the towns in this
valley, in compliance with conditions on
which it has hitherto beer the wise policy
of the Board TO insist in locating the Normal
Schools already established in the state
/. This part of the state includes the st.
Croix Valley, passed in agricultural adj
vantages, and settled To large extent by in
telligent people from the eastern states, who
are anxious TO secure for their children priv
ileges for education not interior to those of
their native states
9. In all this valley, which compOses the
larger and most pOpulOus portions of the
counties of Pierce, Polk and st. CrOix and
in a Urge tract of country To the north. south
and east. 10 distance of more than one hun
dred miles in each direction, there docs not
at present exist a school for the education of
teachers superior TO the lowest class of graded
schools in our state
3. The southeastern and central parts of
our state are all supplied with educational in
situations of every grade. but all at so great
a distance, and so isolated Nv natural barri-
eTs from the great northwestern border. as
20 be almost inaccessible TO our people. who
are thus from necessity excluded from priv
ileges which il should be the Ircrogative of
all the citizens of the state to eaioy. Ii is
estimated that at least ten thousand children
and three hundred teachers in this portion of
the state are 10y their location shut out from
the direct influence of our state educational
institutions.
4. While the northern part OF the state has
contributed its shsre io the public institu-
lions of lie state, both in direct taxes and in
revenue from school university and swamp
lands. rs yet. it has received back nothing,
except from the public school fund. of aBpre-
ciable or permanent value. participating Cnlv
IN very small degree. in the social, moral.
and intellectual beE efits OF our higher edu ca
tiOnal establishments. The sentiment is
very general that this part of the state is nat
urally suffering from the too partial disiribu-
tiOn of educational privileges and it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that the Board of Rcgei.ss of
Normal Schools. who are invested with the
high responsibilities of managing and dis
tributing munifcent fGnd-the property oi
the whole STATE. sci apart Tor. the education
and training OfteacheTs for our public schools
will act ia accordance with this sentiment.
SO far as it may seem To them reasonable and
just.
5. Acting under an enabling act passed bv
the legislature at IFS last session. the towns of
River Falls and Clifton in Pierce county and
ihe towns of Troy and Kimnickinnic in ST.
CrOix County. almost unanimously voted To
issue bonds 10 the amount of $4,000. bear
ing interest al ten per cent. ami to appropri-
ate the proceeds OF the sale of the bonds To
aid IN the erection of a Normal School bull.
ding Conditioned upon the location OF the
fourth State ormal School at the village of
River Falls Although this amount is near.
ly two per cent. on the real property valua-
ton, the spirit of the electors on assuming
this burden by an almost unanimous vote
without regard to party issues. is itself cx-
piesSlve OF their deep conviction of the value
and need OF such an institution and an earn
est OF the cordial support it will receive in
case It should be located at this point.
i here IS general approval throughout this
part, OF The choice OF the place for the loca-
lion of a Normal School.
River Falls Is in fact the pioneer of educa-
total enterprise IN this part of our State
1t Is quiet but growing village. intersected
by the kinnickinnic, and situated ON a plain.
sklrted by natural mounds, and diversified
with pleasant groves. The climate is re-
markable for its salubrity and the moral and
social habits of the people are such as har-
mohize with the designs of an institution of
learning.
The village is situated on the dividing line
beteen the counties of Pierce and St Croix
occupying portion of both counties, and is
accessible by coed stage roads from the DIFF
terent landings on the river and lakes and
nom points nm the interior IL is I'm fact the
most central and eligible location fora Nor
nal School between Lakes PENN and Supe.
nor and offers economical facilities f,r build
ing, tnel. board and other requirements for
establishing and sustaining an educational
institution
The undersigned not being residents or
IfJ .",.eis III tue village OF River Falls
are actuated in our representations bv mo
tives to secure for ourselves and our comm.
MY The material advantages of Normal
school. and also TO raise our section 10 a
standing IN the efficiency of our public
schools and the general intelligence of our
people equal TO that of the more favored por
tons OF our state. and to also secure for our
people an equitable share in the distribution
of the public funds.
helyIng nPon the same i'm partiality and
wisdom which have governed the Board of
Regents IN locating the Normal Schools al
ready established. We cheerfnlly submit our
eialihs 10 thelr consideration and decision.
SrPvEn NM Rrnu- M.-- 60,