Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/612

ELLA FLAGG YOUNG 589 As soon as she left the pnblic schools she was offered a posi- tion as professor of Education in the University of Chicago. But she refused promotion until after she had taken an ad- vanced degree. While she was assistant superintendent she attended late Monday afternoons Professor John Dewey's seminars in logic and philosophy at the University of Chi- cago. She read before the Education Club of the University a paper which, at Professor Dewey's suggestion, she expand- ed later for her thesis when she came up for the degree of doctor of philosophy, which was awarded after a year of grad- uate work in the University, following three years' attendance on the seminars. While in the Univernty she wrote a num- ber of papers on Education and Ethics. In 1904 she resigned her professorship, following her principle of leaving a posi- tion that did not give her a chance to put her best self into her work. She went abroad at that time, spending a year study- ing the schools of the great European cities. Upon her return the next year she was elected to the principalship of the Chi- cago Normal School and held this place until 1909, when she became superintendent of the city schools. Since she became superintendent, the schools of Chicago have made unthought-of advances towards freedom and effi- ciency. Only a few years ago if boys and girls wished train- ing along any special lines to fit them for life, they were com- pelled to get such training outside of the schools. The only instruction to be found in the schools was in academic sub- jects, in subjects leading to leisure and a so-called cultured life. Mrs. Young has made many changes in all this scheme. To-day every class of children, from crippled and sickly chil- dren to restless and overactive boys, have been provided for in the city schools. Education is no longer a grind along nar- row, set lines of dry-as-dust subjects which every boy and girl hates, but has become an interesting way of living and of learning how others live. Pets are kept by children in the lower grades ; shops and kitchens and laboratories are found in all the higher grades. Schools have playgrounds, gym- nasiums, swimming pools, and gardens. Centers have been opened for various amusements under right conditions. Penny lunches have been established. And not only have all sorts