FOREWORD Education in the United States is essentially a State function rather than a Federal function. The development of American education, therefore, can be understood only from a study of the history of education in the States. In January 1930 a committee of the National Society of College Teachers of Education petitioned the United States Commissioner of Education to resume the policy of publishing State histories of educa tion. The chairman of the committee was Stuart G. Noble, professor of education, the Tulane University of Louisiana. The Commissioner of Education expressed himself as in hearty sympathy with the proposal and assured the committee that if they would sponsor the preparation of histories in those States in which the educational developments would be of most importance to educators generally, he would undertake to print the volumes as bulletins of the Office of Education. Plans for the preparation of the manuscript on "The History of Education in Washington" were developed and approved by the committee. The manuscript has been read and approved by representatives of the committee. I am confident that students of education will find the present volume stimulating and instructive and I hereby express my gratitude to the authors for the contribution they have made to the cause of American education. J. W. STUDEBAKER, XIX This volume of the history of education in Washington is the result of many years of intermittent research by graduate students in education under the direction of the senior author. In five doctorate dissertations and about a dozen masters' theses materials have been assembled on various phases of education. The two most direct contributions were The History of Common-School Legislation, by Dennis C. Troth, 1926, and The History of Early Common School Education in Washington, by Thomas W. Bibb, 1928. Those two publications blazed the way for this more complete history of educa tion as a whole. However, this volume is not a reprint of any parts of those or other studies. The volume is a new organization and entirely rewritten. The facts have been secured mainly from original sources, including legislative enactments, superintendents' reports, newspaper items, regents' reports, university, State college, and normal school catalogs, courses of study, registrars' figures, State archives, etc. The sources of specific materials are indicated in the appropriate connection with the given discussion. For these reasons the general bibliography is brief. It would be undesirable to restate every reference in the general bibliography. This volume should be followed by a score of monographs on various most interesting and important phases of the history of education in the State. Each of the higher educational institutions merits an entire volume. A biographical history of the pioneer and later leaders would be very desirable. A collection of the portions of the governors' messages on education would make an interesting and valuable monograph. Likewise a collection of the general analyses and recommenda tions of the State superintendents would make another important document. The annual addresses of the presidents of the State Teachers Association should also be collected. Vast quantities of valuable and unreplaceable material are constantly going into oblivion. Steps should be taken to collect this before it is too late. Since the preparation of this volume was begun fully a dozen of the pioneer leaders, including State superintendents, county superintendents, and city superintendents, have passed away. Grateful appreciation is expressed to all who have so generously cooperated in providing materials. Limited space has prevented the incorporation of more than a small portion of the materials made. available. Likewise it is impossible to even mention individually all who have contributed. FREDERICK E. BOLTON. ΧΧΙ |