The Struggle for a State University
Professor M.W. Taylor defends the University of Washington against critics who claim the school is too low-standard to serve the state.
The story, cleaned up
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The University of Washington was founded in a land grant made by the government in 1854. Since its early days, it has labored under many difficulties, including the geographical isolation caused by the Cascade mountains and a lack of 'fitting schools' or high schools to prepare students for college. Recently, the university has faced severe criticism regarding its low standard of admission, often voiced by those interested in private or denominational schools. I defend the university against these unjust attacks; it is not a perfect institution, but it is a young one that has served the state well. To raise standards arbitrarily now would be ruinous, as it would alienate students from rural districts who lack access to local high schools. We must build an institution that serves the whole state, not just the cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. My vision is to create a complete university system, incorporating colleges of agriculture, mining, law, and medicine, allowing the youth of this commonwealth to fulfill their potential.
“A school, like a tree, is to be judged by its fruit.”
Professor Taylor’s 1894 defense of the University of Washington highlights the long-standing tension between elite academic standards and the civic mission of providing accessible higher education to rural and underserved populations—a debate that remains central to public university funding and enrollment policies in Washington today.
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