The Washington herald., 1909-08-09
WOMAN AS AN EXECUTIVE
Mrs Young Well Fitted as Head of the Great
Chicago School System

7 but one way OF doing things, and that
was the right way. But she CHANGED
somehow or other upon the much more
Illuminating fact that right is not hard
and absolute term. and that the most
wonderful thing in the world is human
/ personality. Having gone 50 far, Il was
not difficult for one Of her logical mind
TO conclude that the business Of the edu-
Gator was 70 develop personality. 50 she
has identified herself with the most ad-
vanced psychological methods along these
lines. To how great an extent she IN
spired DR.. Dewey. the formulator IN this
part Of the world OF what may be termed
the sympathetic mode OF education. and
10 what extent he was inspired by her
cannot be said. They worked together
well and strengthened and confirmed each
other IN the development OF 4 fascinating
system.
Mrs. YoUpg must not be thought OF as
a masculine woman. She has pre-emi-
nsntly a woman's nature, and II she has
more concentration OF purpose than most
OF her sex. why 60 also does she go
/ further IN this direction than most men.
Perhaps the Boston ability 70 see a plan
or policy in its general bearings, rather
than In parts, is more masculine than
feminine, but Mrs. Young's capacity fer
doing this does not keep her from SEX
ing pleasure after the manner Of women.
OF for surrounding herself with things
dencate, rare, and ornamental she likes
old. beautiful things. old china, old lace.
old mahogany. old prints. Though she
dresses with simplicity, she is far from
oblivious 10 the color. the cut. and the
quality Of her garments. Were one 10
characterize her style OF dressing briefly
for the benefit CT those interested. one
would say that she dresses with more
regard for genuine elegance and propriety
than for fashion The severity OF her
face is miugated By sort Of spirituality,
and though at first one would think her
sad, yet her features have a way OF
breaking into a lovely and reassuring
smile. OF course. afterward. one would
return 70 the idea that she was sad, be-
cause she has, It would seem, a funda-
mental gravity. not without its poeticaI
and religious significance.
Although not a mother herself she has
always had a remarkable feeling for chn-
dren and a wonderful success IN winning
them. She Is fond, too. OF using thu
smile OF the child IN her conversation
and argument
II ones work lay all the time IN I'm
ited areas" she said recently, "one's
mental development necessarily would be.
circumscribed Suppose you had six chill
dren and they all died when they were
six years old. would YOU have as broad
experience with them as II they had
lived 10 be OF age?' Her long experience
with pupils OF every age enables her 70
look at school problems from the stand
point OF the learner as well as from
that OF the educator. and this has been
invaluable 70 Der as a teacher.
The conservative need have no fear that
the schools Of Chicago will be disar-
ranged by sudden changes and reforms.
Il IS growth rather than alteration which
will be Mrs. Young's watchword. II the
schools fail Of the purpose 70 1T the
pupils for the lives they are to lead,
Mrs Young VIII try TO remedy that. II
they have substituted formulas for Inspi-
rational influences. be sure she VIII dis
cern, and so far as IN her lies. correct
II. And II IS very likely indeed, that she,
viii urge the appointment OF teachers
who hold ideas similar 10 herself-sha
viii want 20 have the policy OF the
schools vitalizing one. She will desire
above sll things that the pupils shall
have an opportunity 10 develop and ex-
press their personality. This will be
largely. but net altogether along the line
OF such practical departments OF work q .
handicraft Of all kinds, though there J
no denying that the technical schools
have an enthusiastic friend in Mrs.
Young.