The intent of the Legislature in enacting this article is to increase the effectiveness of teachers and other professional school service personnel in the public schools of California by placing theory and practice as closely together as possible in college and university programs for the preparation of teachers and professional school service personnel. The Teacher Education Internship Act of 1967 is enacted to encourage the development and maintenance of preparation programs that are realistic and practical in content and theory and are directly related to the individual functions and responsibilities practitioners in the public schools of California face. The desirability of joining theory and practice during the learning period has been demonstrated amply in teaching internship programs during the past several years both within and without the state.