, 1876-07-23

From the Times, treninl
edition, July II.
THE COUNTY NORMAL

THE ktQ NH SU1kAAL
SCHOOL
The County Normal
school at Englewood ha
long been notorious TO
its public incfficiency, 1t
internal scandals. its sec
tarian propagandism, an
its contemplate stand
Ing ~ an educational In
stitutior. Three cause
have contributed to thi
general result: the IN
| fortunate selection Of alr
| D. S. Wentworth as it
head; the subjcction o
the institution to the po
litical Influences OF 'th,
County Board; and th'
sectarian. espionage
which has turned
echoo1 supported bj
taxation on all classcl
into q propaganda :Jo'
evangelical cant anf
snireting hypocrisy. /
may surprise and amuss
the taxpayers Of Cool
County to learn that theJ
are assessed for tht
| maintenance Of chapel,
prayers, instruction Ii
Biblical and other codes.
and that the Cook Coun
ty Normal School il
- rum ~ in the interes
Of certain sects just 4!
thoroughly Us it thcst
sccts owned 1t, and die
not ask the people o.
Cook County OF all de,
nominations to pay it:
entire expenses.
Mr. Wentworth is rath.
er to be pltied. Will
only nsed1re education,
no ability dbore the me-
di0cre, and lacking gross
~ the high and 1roat
culture demanded for th,
administration Of so re.
sponsible a place, be re,
tired from q Principal.
ship in the public schools
Of Chicago for the good
of the schools; and when
4 corrupt and venal
county ring established a
Normal School at Eng1c-
wood, chiefly aB n specu-
1ation in the interest OF
certain parcels OF real
estate, Mr. Wentworth
surprised his friends by
obtaining the appoint
ment of Principal. At
tuire the salary which
he conld have earned
had he been able to re-
tain his connection with
the Chicago schools.
As political influence
creatod him Principal at
Englewood. he has had
to endure the misfortune
Of remaining subject to
the samc influence as 9
condition Of hts tenure;
and, as political iniln-
cnces representing other
pEedilectlons tnan Mose
which created him nave
Of late years obtained
some strength in the
County Board Of Euca~
ton, Mr. Wentworth has
benn compelled to devote
his time to cnltivattugi
political friendships,
eluding political enmi-.
tiee. - fixing" this man,
ssuutting-np-iobs - on
that. md participating fn]
iii the disgusting and,
embarrassing disputes
which arise ont OF such
A condition Of affairs.
Tins Nfr, Wentworth,
has been deprived of
the opportunity to|
obtain for himself thel
learnine 1rhich he did nof|
Dossess ORIGINALLY: thus!
he Was compelled to del
vote his energy to eaying
his position instead OF tor
eleyntin9 the standard Of
the Cook County Normal
School; and thus politt-
cal factions, quarrcllng|i
over him and his ind1a-
Greet conduct, hnre madek
Cook County pay enor-
nous taxes for the main
tenance OF what has be- I
come IN educational I
sham.
Indeed. 1t may fadrly1
be doubted whether any|t
man. possessing ngadequatcil
q qualifications to bcgln;t t
with, -0s Mr. Nentsrorfh !
did not, t,-could have per-
fectly succeeded so long :
as country seCtarianismis
Kept hold Of The, interior !
Df the school, and county
politicians made it one Of !
their sources Of personal |
patronage. There areE <
:eachers in 1t who were t
never examined Us to thcir|s
itness to teach. There t
laa been teaching done in i!
ts class-roolns thatwould|1 I
nakcPesta1ozzi and Froc-l h
,el weep in their graves. Z
L has no longer n reputd- Il
ion for integrity or thor "
,ughness, ind it's only{N
itriking product is thel Il
E8touuIing eqotisrl Of the P
,ctty peda9oeues wholp
.lnerge thence everyycar
It 1rould do no harm, to lis
he county If TIE i7sstifu- t:
i'm 1o<re closed up. If}p