Academic Revolution in California: A History of Events Leading to the Passage and Implementation of the 1961 Fisher Bill on Teacher Cerification: Part I

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In writing contemporary history there is an almost inevitable tendency to perceive of one's subject in epoch making proportions, only for it to turn up eventually as a mere ripple on the long spectrum of human events. Eighty-three years from today the Fisher Bill having to do with state teacher certification requirements adopted in 1961, may prove to be no more than a ripple on the stream of California education, which barring a truly epoch making event will have been flowing for two hundred years. Much of the bill's significance, or lack of same, still remains to be proven. While national attention has been directed toward its detailed nature, its stipulation of a five year preparation period for elementary teachers, and its requirement of academic subject matter majors or minors for virtually all certificated teachers, there has been no widespread march of states to pass carbon copy legislation. In fact, even California has found it necessary to retreat slightly from details, if not major stipulations, of the original requirements, this having been done by virtue of another legislative act passed in 1965. The significance of the law's requirements, together with the consequences of the Legislature's growing willingness to assume a direct hand in the writing of teacher certification requirements, are still in doubt. At the same time, there is no question but that few issues in the history of California education have been so widely discussed and debated by such a broad cross section of representatives holding differing opinions. From time to time during