Educational Development in the Territory and State of Washington, 1853-1908

Abstract

"The first legislative assembly by an Act approved April 24, 1854, established a territorial school system whose highest officer was the County Superintendent acting only in and for his respective county. It is impossible to determine now just how many children were in the Territory at that time. Possibly not more than 500 were of school age among the 3,965 found by the census of the autumn of 1853. Not until 1861 was sufficient importance attached to common schools to create a Territorial supervisory office."