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Show ELLA FLAGG YOUNG, EDUCATOR, IS FLUVICT1M As Chicago School Superintendent, Superin-tendent, She Best Political Po-litical Enemies. WAHHINUTON, Oct. M. Ella KUgg Tounir, chairman of th national woman's wo-man's Lilierty loan committee, died today to-day of pneumonia, following1 an attack of Influensa. Mr KUa Flagg Young waa one of ths beat known woman educators tn the United Htates. Hhs was a leader of progressive educational Ideas to which she devoted mora than fifty -y af hat 11aa She was chosen superintendent of Chi rairo's public schools In 10, from a list of six candidates, five of whom were men educators of national reputation. repu-tation. Hhe succeeded Edwin O. Coo-ley Coo-ley and waa the first woman to be sate sa-te lec ted superintendent of schools In one of th largest American cities. As head of th public schools of Chicago she was Intrusted with the education of loo.ooo children. ftha Inaugurated many Important reforms, re-forms, among these being the teaching of sex hygiene, th enlargement of the kindergarten course, an increase In the scope of the vocational training department, and simplification of th curriculum of th primary grades. She was aggressive and possessed great executive ability. She Insisted upon the complete divorce of politics from the public schools and fought many successful battle In support of this principle. SUODINLY RKSIGNS. In a faction of th Chicago school board planned to oust her from her position as superintendent. She anticipated the move by suddenly resigning. re-signing. Mayor Harrison was appealed to by th publlo to have her withdraw her resignation and return to her official of-ficial duties, although sh was nearly 70 years old at th time. Mrs. Young declined to return unless her enemies on the school board retired. re-tired. Mayor Harrison was obliged to accept the resignations of five trustees before Mr. Young again assumed her official duties. She triumphed in every clash sh had with th politicians In the school board affairs. I Mrs. You lag- was bom In Buffalo, N. Y.. January IB, 1845, and was brought' to Chicago by her parents when a young girl. Sh graduated from the Chicago publlo schools and was appointed ap-pointed teacher In the primary grade, In 18l. when she was 17 year old. FOND OF TEACHINQ. Ah.. m n-lgh.fi t,n m. fhWgj mr- chant In ISfi, but her husband died a year later and sh returned to teaching. teach-ing. "I would rather teach than do anything any-thing In th world." Mrs, Young said on on occasion. President William R. Harper of th University of Chicago, who was opposed op-posed to the appointment of women to Important poet a mad an exception of Mra Young" case and appointed her a professor in th department of pedagogy peda-gogy In lift. Mrs. Young at first declined to accept, ac-cept, saying: "1 haven't doctor's degree de-gree and I don't want to be teaching those who are working for their higher degrees when I haven't one myself " "If th woman w want and not the degree, remarked President Harper as he Insisted sh accept It. Finally sh oonsented to take th place on condition that sh should first earn her degree. She left the University of Chicago In 190ft to become principal of the Chicago Chi-cago Normal school, a place sh retained re-tained until appointed superintendent of Chicago publlo schools In ltd. She was president of. th National Education association la ItlO and 1911. |