Staking out the Territory: The University of Western Australia, the Diploma in Educatin and Teacher Training 1914-1956

The Diploma in Education has been a licenceto teach in Western Australia since 1929. Asan award made outside the State's educationsystem, the history of the decision-makingbehind its institution has been overlooked.This article surveys some of the moreimportant decisions made by The Universityof Western Australia as it staked out itsterritory in teacher education and training inthe first half of the 20th Century. It suggeststhat the main motivation for suchinvolvement by the University was to protectthe quality of its matriculants, many ofwhom came from independent schools.