Higher Standards for Teachers in the State of Washington

Abstract

Two recent events in the state of Washington are destined to have far-reaching significance in the development of the teaching profession in the Pacific Northwest: first, the enactment by the legislature, just adjourned, of an entirely new certification law and of a law providing a state-wide retirement fund; second, the new requirements made by the School of Education of the University of Washington for life-certificates issued through the university. The four northwest states, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, have been gradually becoming aware of the fact that the qualifications for teaching in these states have been far too low. Throngs of teachers from the middle western states, where requirements are higher, who could not gain certificates in their own states have been drifting into the Northwest. Happily, the results, on the whole, have not been serious because thousands of well-qualified teachers, attracted by the exceptional climatic conditions and the desire to travel, make applications for positions. Oftentimes there are hundreds of applications for each vacant position. This has made it possible for boards of education to select the better qualified teachers.