The University of Western Australia, the Diploma in Education and Teacher Training 1914-1956
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Australian Journal of Teacher Education Volume 28 Issue 1 Article 3 5-2003 Staking out the Territory : the University of Western Australia, the Diploma in Education and Teacher Training 1914-1956 Kaye Tully University of Western Australia Clive Whitehead University of Western Australia Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte Part of the Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons Recommended Citation Tully, K., & Whitehead, C. (2003). Staking out the Territory : the University of Western Australia, the Diploma in Education and Teacher Training 1914-1956. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 28(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2003v28n1.3 This Journal Article is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol28/iss1/3 Australian Journal of Teacher Education STAKING OUT THE TERRITORY: THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, THE DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING 1914 - 1956 Kaye Tully and Clive Whitehead The University of Western Australia ABSTRACT What literature that is available makes little The Diploma in Education has been a licence mention of the diplomas. In 1955, David to teach in Western Australia since 1929. As an award made outside the State's education Mossenson (Mossenson, 1955) described the system, the history of the decision-making role of the second diploma as a qualification behind its institution has been overlooked. for primary and secondary school teachers. This article surveys some of the more Almost half a century later Di Gardiner important decisions made by The University (Gardiner, 2001) analysed the curriculum of of Western Australia as it staked out its each diploma, as part of her study of the territory in teacher education and training in construction of Education as a discipline at the first half of the 20th Century. It suggests the University of Western Australia. Clearly, that the main motivation for such an examination of the diplomas in the involvement by the University was to protect context of University decision-making is the quality of its matriculants, many of well overdue. whom came from independent schools. THE FIRST DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION INTRODUCTION The University of Western Australia Act In the course of the first half of the 20th 1911 empowered the University to offer Century, The University of Western instruction and grant awards in any branch of Australia staked out its territory in teacher knowledge available in the United Kingdom. education and training, during which time it (UWA Calendar, 1914, p. 29) This wide offered three diplomas in education. The rise brief opened the way for the early and demise of each diploma can be tied to introduction of teacher education. In conditions in the state's schools. The first February 1914, Professor Walter Murdoch was introduced when the organization of raised the matter of a Diploma of Education schooling was rudimentary, the second when before the Professorial Board. He felt such a state primary schools dominated provision course would bring the University, which and the third when secondary schooling in enrolled its first students in 1913, closer to government schools eclipsed the number of Claremont Teachers' Training College. Such independent schools. The education a relationship made sound economic sense provided in the diploma courses reflected for it would mean that the University could these stages. use the College's facilities. Murdoch withdrew the motion, however, so that the Faculty of Arts could consider the matter in more detail. In December, he proposed the course once more and this time the Diploma was to be a graduate qualification Professorial Board agreed that it should go and all students would study pedagogy for ahead. Subsequently, regulations were kindergarten, primary or secondary schools, drawn up for a one-year graduate-entry psychology, education and a unit in physics, Diploma in Education utilising University chemistry, biology or geology. (UWA and College facilities. Students enrolling in Archives 0210) the course would be able to qualify as kindergarten, primary or secondary teachers. This Diploma in Education finally appeared (UWA, Professorial Board, 1914) in The University Calendar for 1917, but went into abeyance in 1918 and remained so The Education Committee, chaired by Cecil until 1921 when it disappeared without the Andrews, the University's Pro Chancellor University having enrolled a single student. and the government's Director of Education, (UWA Calendar, 1917, p. 112, 1918, p. 28 rejected the idea. He was contemplating the and 1921) Two years later the report of a development of an extensive network of Senate sub-committee chaired by Cecil State high schools following the opening of Andrews confirmed its demise. The Perth Modern School in 1912. (Andrews, committee recommended and the Senate 1912) It was his opinion that the Faculties of accepted that the person who succeeded Arts and Science together with the Teachers' Rooney as Principal of the Teachers' College College could provide all necessary should also be a Professor of Education at education and training that the staff for these the University. Until the dual appointment schools would need. In the circumstances, a became a reality, there would be no further university-based Diploma in Education attempt to activate the Diploma in Education. would be an unnecessary drain on the State's (UWA Senate, 1923) education budget. (UWA Education Committee, 1914) Realistically, the Western Australian population was too small, too disrupted by The Education Committee, nevertheless, the First World War and too dispersed to recommended to the Senate that the subject support a Diploma in Education. Andrews' Education should be included in the ambitious secondary education program philosophy stream in the Bachelor of Arts. degenerated into a single over-crowded Twelve months later, after negotiations with metropolitan high school and six under- Andrews, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor utilised regional secondary schools staffed Hubert Whitfield, told the Committee that it from graduates teaching in State primary was likely that Education would be included schools during the 1920s. Only the in the curriculum in 1916, without disturbing independent secondary schools remained as a the delicate balance of University finances. possible market for the Diploma and they Shortly after, the Principal of the Teachers' were neither large enough nor sufficient in College, William Rooney, was appointed an number to make it worth the University's Associate Lecturer and part-time head of the while. Thus, Rooney was left alone to fly Department of Education in the Arts faculty the Education flag in the Arts faculty. 'at no cost to the University'. IN THE INTERREGNUM The Senate, however, passed Rooney's appointment only on the condition 'that the Despite the demise of the first diploma, the question of the Diploma in Education ... University continued to seek education come up for consideration later in the year'. territory via the control of independent (UWA Senate, 1916) The Professorial Board secondary schools and their teachers. In May approved regulations for a Diploma in 1923, after examining The Victorian Education in September 1916. The first Education Act of 1915, which established a Australian Journal of Teacher Education Council of Education to approve schools for Senate did not wish to intrude upon the matriculation and register teachers, the normal functioning of the Education Senate proposed a similar body for Western Department. Rather, it wanted closer Australia. It suggested to H.A.L. Colebatch, supervision of independent secondary the Minister for Education, that the Director schools so that the University could 'monitor of Education would be the ideal Chair. The their educational standards'. In support, council itself would consist of four Andrews pointed out that such councils representatives from the State Education existed in Victoria and South Australia Department, four from the major where they worked well. Drew, however, independent schools, one from the technical did not want to add to the financial burden schools, one from the Australian Music on the State at a time 'when the government Examinations Board, and six from was at its wits' end to find money for the commerce, industry and agriculture. (UWA establishment of rural primary schools, Archives 0806, 1924) which were its first consideration'. Nonetheless, being a reasonable person, he Although the University appeared to be agreed to submit the matter to Cabinet. (The under-represented in the membership, the West Australian, 1925) concept had the support of the independent schools and the Education Department, Two months later the Minister informed Saw which were dependent on the University's that the proposal had been considered by the Public Examinations Board for their Cabinet and rejected. (Education Department secondary school curriculum. File 975-23, 1925) Without a council the possibility of approving independent schools The Mitchell government's defeat in 1930 for the purpose of matriculation disappeared. delayed a response to the Senate's proposal. Furthermore, as approval would have When the new Minister, John Drew, finally required the registration of teachers, who replied he informed the Senate that: might have been required to have a Diploma unless its functions are purely of an in Education or its equivalent, this potential ornamental character a Council of this market for the award was denied to the magnitude would mean heavy charges on the University. revenue, and this is impossible under existing conditions. The matter must stand The Senate, however, did not abandon the over until there is a substantial improvement independent schools. It asked the University in the finances. to invite non-departmental school and Education Department representatives to The government's financial commitment to meet members of the Senate to discuss the the post-1918 expansion of the state's wheat- matter of teacher training in Western belt and the development of a dairy industry Australia. (UWA Senate, 1926) Whitfield in the south-west was proving to be a himself felt that the University had an substantial drain on the budget.