History of Arkansas Tech University :: essays research papers

History of Arkansas Tech University Est. 1909   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arkansas ranked 42nd out of the 46 states in annual per capita school funds at a mere $4.97 per student. Citizens started to feel the need for secondary education for their children most ardently. The Washington County Farmers’ Union started the concept of agricultural boarding schools. H.S. Mobley was one of the most fluent spokesman for the Union. He believed in vocational education, and he pleaded for schools where students might learn partly by working with their hands at practical farm work under trained instructors. In 1908, the Arkansas Democratic platform endorsed the idea of â€Å"farmer’s schools† and George W. Donaghey advocated four such schools in his campaign for governor. The bill that was introduced to the Senate was referred to the agriculture committee, which reported the bill back to the House of Representatives on January 30, 1909, with the recommendation that it be passed. The bill passed the House on February 5, 1909, and the Senate on March 23, 1909. It was signed into law as Act 100 by Governor Donaghey on April 1, 1909. By September 30, 1909, the board members had been appointed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The town wishing to be considered as the location for one of the four schools must offer a minimum of $40,000 and a site of not less than 200 acres. The citizens of Russellville were very interested in meeting these bid conditions. A story in the January 1910 Courier Democrat stated that Atkins had raised $30,000 and 320 acres of land toward a bid for the school, apparently only four towns were in the final bidding; Fort Smith with $40,000 and 200 acres of land; Ozark with $40,000 and 200 acres of land; Russellville with $40,000 and 220 acres of land; and Morrilton with $46,000 and 200 acres of land. It originally appeared that Morrilton went to Ozark with the best bid. However, apparently at the last moment the Russellville delegation led by Judge R.B. Wilson raised its bid by offering free lights and water for three years. Russellville was also favored because of its healthfulness of location, its railroad connections with Dardanelle, Ola, Little Rock, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, its quality of soil, its central location in the district, its proposed site close to town, and its location directly on the water and light lines coming from the dam. February 10, 1910, was a great day in Russellville. History of Arkansas Tech University :: essays research papers History of Arkansas Tech University Est. 1909   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arkansas ranked 42nd out of the 46 states in annual per capita school funds at a mere $4.97 per student. Citizens started to feel the need for secondary education for their children most ardently. The Washington County Farmers’ Union started the concept of agricultural boarding schools. H.S. Mobley was one of the most fluent spokesman for the Union. He believed in vocational education, and he pleaded for schools where students might learn partly by working with their hands at practical farm work under trained instructors. In 1908, the Arkansas Democratic platform endorsed the idea of â€Å"farmer’s schools† and George W. Donaghey advocated four such schools in his campaign for governor. The bill that was introduced to the Senate was referred to the agriculture committee, which reported the bill back to the House of Representatives on January 30, 1909, with the recommendation that it be passed. The bill passed the House on February 5, 1909, and the Senate on March 23, 1909. It was signed into law as Act 100 by Governor Donaghey on April 1, 1909. By September 30, 1909, the board members had been appointed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The town wishing to be considered as the location for one of the four schools must offer a minimum of $40,000 and a site of not less than 200 acres. The citizens of Russellville were very interested in meeting these bid conditions. A story in the January 1910 Courier Democrat stated that Atkins had raised $30,000 and 320 acres of land toward a bid for the school, apparently only four towns were in the final bidding; Fort Smith with $40,000 and 200 acres of land; Ozark with $40,000 and 200 acres of land; Russellville with $40,000 and 220 acres of land; and Morrilton with $46,000 and 200 acres of land. It originally appeared that Morrilton went to Ozark with the best bid. However, apparently at the last moment the Russellville delegation led by Judge R.B. Wilson raised its bid by offering free lights and water for three years. Russellville was also favored because of its healthfulness of location, its railroad connections with Dardanelle, Ola, Little Rock, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, its quality of soil, its central location in the district, its proposed site close to town, and its location directly on the water and light lines coming from the dam. February 10, 1910, was a great day in Russellville.