Vocational education in Europe (v. 1): report to the Commercial Club of Chicago
(This book was digitized and reprinted from the collection...)
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Some Continuation Schools of Europe (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Some Continuation Schools of Europe
Merchan...)
Excerpt from Some Continuation Schools of Europe
Merchant apprentices, in all 6 of science of commerce, counting-room work, commercial arithmetic, penmanship, commercial geography, study of commercial wares and bookkeeping.
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Edwin Gilbert Cooley was born on March 12, 1857 in Strawberry Point, Iowa, United States. His father's family, marked by the spirit of pioneers, was distinguished for military service and leadership in civic affairs, Benjamin, the founder of the family in America, having served in King Philip's War, Abner, the great-grandfather, in the Revolution, and his father, in the Civil War. The mother, too, is said to have been the "pioneer type" with "uncommon abilities" which she proved by diligent economy while her husband was in the army. This fearless, aggressive character was shared by young Cooley.
Education
His education was twofold, the little learning of frontier schools alternating with the rigorous discipline of toil; later he made his way to college. In 1872 he entered the preparatory division of the University of Iowa, but his college training was interrupted by apprenticeship to a wagon-maker. In 1895 Cooley completed his interrupted college work and received the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago.
Career
He began the apprenticeship of labor, "dropping corn, " hoeing, and husking; later he worked on the railroad, in harvest fields, and sawing wood. Later he got hold of Rollin's Ancient History, delved into Josephus, Plutarch's Lives, the works of Shakespeare, Scott, and Milton. Small wonder that, in later years, he traced his success to the "strong meat of solid reading" and took little stock in the growing doctrine of "reading without tears. "
Cooley began teaching in days when "muscle and grit" were more important than college credits. After teaching a few years he became principal at Strawberry Point (1882), went to Cresco as superintendent (1885 - 91), served the East Side Aurora High School as principal (1891 - 93), and the Lyons Township High School, La Grange (1893 - 1900). Though elected head of the Chicago Normal School, he entered instead the superintendency of Chicago schools, to which he was elected in June 1900--an office he held till 1909. After a year as president of D. C. Heath & Company (1909 - 10), Cooley traveled, studying continuation education abroad and publishing his findings for the Chicago Commercial Club.
During the First World War he was employed for some time by the American Red Cross; later he assisted in training enlisted men as mechanics.
In December 1918 he became head of continuation schools in Chicago. His success as an administrator brought demands for his service and many honors. He became a member of the National Council of Education in 1905. He served for several years on the board of the Iowa State Normal.
His career was full of fight: a beginner, he thrashed the biggest boys and mastered the school; at Cresco, he borrowed books and wrestled with subjects he had to teach but had never studied; the "big Boss" of Aurora and political meddling in Chicago schools he met in turn and overcame. The merit system replaced influence and time-serving in Chicago schools; free textbooks were provided, manual training and commercial education were extended, education of the blind and transportation for crippled children were begun, professional study by teachers was given a marked impetus, and numerous other reforms were accomplished under his régime. But the strain told on Cooley. When he entered the Chicago system he is said to have been like a brawny blacksmith; nine years later he was "an old man, " his vitality gone. After an interim of travel and study abroad he directed continuation education in Chicago till his death, which followed a nervous breakdown and protracted illness.
Achievements
He was president of the Illinois Teachers' Association (1904), and head of the Department of Superintendence (1904) and president (1907) of the National Education Association.
Austria decorated him with the Order of Franz Joseph.
