Dispelled Isolation And Education Democracy:Study On Ella Flagg Young’s Educational Thought

Ella Flagg Young(1845-1918)was one of the few progressive women in the history of American education to have held the title of “First Woman” in one.Her personal influence was undoubtedly remarkable.Ella Young was one of the first women professors hired at the University of Chicago(1900-1904);The first female president of the Chicago Normal School(now Chicago State University)(1905-1909);The first female superintendent of schools in Chicago,the second largest city in the United States(1909-1915);The first female president of the National Education Association(1910).Besides,she was also the first woman whose salary over $10000 of professional women in the era of Progressivism.She was the end of the 19 th century early 20 th century American progressive education reform activities,an outstanding educator,and was good at applying the theory of education into practice effectively and was an outstanding progressive educator with the effective unification of theory and practice.China’s education has entered a new stage of development.How to accelerate the narrowing of the distance between education ideal and reality and promote the realization of high-quality education development is the focus of the reform.Therefore,through the study of Ella Young’s complementary democratic education thought and practice,it can provide some useful experience and enlightenment for our country which is in the stage of deepening education reform.This study was divided into four parts.The first part introduced Ella Yong’s background and educational growth experience,which mainly included:studying experience,grassroots teaching experience,educational administration experience;the University of Chicago studied under John Dewey for a doctorate and as a professor;the first female president of the Chicago Normal School;the first female superintendent of the Chicago City School system;the first female president of the National Education Association;and her mind was on education and the state in her all years.Her practice of educational democratic innovation not only had a great impact at that time,but also had a profound significance in the history of American education.The second part mainly analyzed Ella Young’s curriculum thought based on democracy.Firstly,She believed that school curricula must reflect real social life.Secondly,paid attention to the links of courses and the diversification of courses.Finally,claimed the convergence of academic and vocational courses,and opposed the “dual-track” school system,which the diversion of academic and vocational education.The third part mainly analyzed Ella Young’s educational democratic management thought.First of all,She criticized the management of school hierarchy,mainly included the “isolation” of management decisions and teaching practice,excessive “strict supervision” of teachers,and the criticism of evaluating teachers with “rating scale”.Secondly,the principle of educational democratic management is “democratic efficiency”,which should be pursued on the basis of democratic equality and cooperation.Thirdly,it advocated“empowering teachers”,thus organizing and establishing the first official“Teachers Councils” unit attached to the Education Bureau in the History of American education.Grass-roots teachers participated in the decision-making process of education through legal and effective ways.Finally,Ella Young,who has been a principal for many years,knew that principals plaid an important role in the democratization of the school,so she put forward the corresponding requirements on the qualifications of principals.The fourth part mainly analyzed Ella Young’s teacher education thought.First of all,She criticized the isolation of teaching theory and practice;Secondly,it discussed the significance of teachers’ independent thinking,scientific spirit and intellectual freedom.Thirdly,it discussed that teaching is a cause of “ethics and morality”.Finally,it discussed the professionalization of teacher training.The last part was the conclusion.As a progressive educator Ella Young who emphasized both educational theory and practice,devoted all her life to eliminating the “Isolation” in traditional American schools,implementing the progressive education reform,and making unremitting efforts to realize the ideal of educational democracy.Therefore,Her educational thought and practice are still enlightening to the educational reform of our country.