William J. Bogan

William J. Bogan (October 26, 1870 – March 24, 1936) was an American educator and administrator who served as the superintendent of Chicago Public Schools from 1928 until his death in March 1936. During his time as superintendent, he was regarded as one of the most prominent educators in the United States.

William J. Bogan
Bogan in 1923
14th Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools
In office
August 29, 1927 – March 24, 1936
("acting superintendent" August 29, 1927–June 28, 1928)
Preceded byWilliam McAndrew
Succeeded byWilliam Johnson
Personal details
BornOctober 26, 1870
Mackinac Island, Michigan
DiedMarch 24, 1936 (age 64)
SpouseElizabeth
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Chicago
ProfessionEducator and administrator

Early life

Bogan was born October 26, 1870, in Mackinac Island, Michigan. He grew up there, attending elementary school and high school there.[1][2]

Bogan began his educational career by teaching at schools in Northern Michigan.[1][2]

McAndrew received a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1909.[2]

At one point, Bogan taught education at the University of California.[3]

Chicago Public Schools career

In 1893, Bogan began what would be a 43-year career with Chicago Public Schools. He started as a teacher at Washington Elementary School.[1][2][3] In 1900, he became principal of the elementary school.[2]

In 1905 Bogan was transferred to serve as the principal of Lane Technical High School.[2] Bogan remained as this school's principal until 1924.[2] The school was regarded as setting a national model during his tenure.[3] Bogan became regarded as a leader in manual training as well as trades and industries education.[4]

At one point, Bogan was additionally the superintendent of the Chicago Athenaeum, which was a hybrid business college and high school.[3] He also additionally served as the principal of the Knights of Columbus Free Evening Schools, which provided education for former servicemen and servicewomen.[5][6]

On April 18, 1924, Bogan was appointed to the position of first assistant superintendent of Chicago Public School, serving under Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools William McAndrew.[3][5] Bogan had been originally the preferred candidate of multiple Chicago Board of Education members for the superindendency, before McAndrew was selected in a compromise.[7] Bogan was assigned purview over public colleges, high schools, and night schools.[3] He would also be tasked with helping to oversee the establishment of middle schools in the city.[8] At the time he was appointed, the NCWC News Service (a Catholic news wire based in the United States) referred to Bogan, a Catholic, as, "one of the best known Catholic lay educators in the country."[5]

Bogan beieived in placing a great emphasis on education for those who did not expect to go to college.[2] Regarded as a leading authority on vocational education, Bogan served as president of both the National Society for Vocational Education and the Vocational Educational Association of the Middle West.[3]

Superintendency

After McAndrew was suspended from his job as superintendent by the Chicago Board of Education on August 29, 1927, pending a trial, Bogan was made acting Superintendent.[3][9][10][11]

On June 27, 1928, the Chicago Board of Education elected Bogan (who was still been serving as "acting" superintendent) as the new permanent superintendent of Chicago Public Schools.[12]

During his superintendency, The New York Times would write that Bogan was, "recognized as one of the foremost educators in the country."[13]

Bogan lead the Chicago Public Schools through many years of the Great Depression.[2] In these years, the Board of Education put the schools under a "crucially low" budget.[2] Bogan put in place a program which helped to find jobs for the nearly 2,000 elementary school teachers who were played.[2] He begged the federal government to provide financial aid to Chicago Public Schools.[2] Bogan also supported having relegious instruction in the schools, remarking, "in this time of critical condiitions, the churches and schools have a great responsibility to young people".[2] At one point, Bogan threatened to cut teachers' wages.[2]

In April 1932, Bogan ordered that all Chicago Public Schools students undergo periodic psychological evaluations, believing that this would increase safety and prevent crimes that could be attributed to mental conditions. This came in the wake of a thirteen-year-old student that had exhibited "criminal tendencies", George Rogalski, murdering Dorette Zietlow, a child who was less than three years old.[14]

In October 1932, a powder bomb was set off in front Bogan's home. The bomb left little damage, was believed to have been set up by racketeers seeking to organize small businesses against the cafeterias that were being operated in the city's middle and high schools.[13]

In 1935, with his health failing, much of Bogan's work as superintendent was delegated to his new assistant superintendent, William Johnson, whose appointment by the Chicago Board of Education Bogan had originally opposed.[15]

Death

Bogan died at the age of 64 on March 24, 1936.[1]

Legacy

Bogan High School in Chicago is named for him.[2] The library at Lane Tech High School, where Bogan served as the longtime principal, was dedicated to him.[2]

Chicago's Richard J. Daley College was formerly named " William J. Bogan Junior College".

Personal life

Bogan and his wife, Elizabeth Shelley Bogan, had two daughters and a son.[2][13] Bogan was Catholic.[5]

References
  1. "William J. Bogan, Chicago School Head, Dies at 64". Newspapers.com. The Capital Times. The Associated Press. 25 Mar 1936. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. White, Nancy (4 Mar 1965). "Bogan Guided Board During Crash Years". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. "Predict Bogan's Election To Fill McAndrew's Job". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. 20 May 1928. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. "Trade School Leaders Will Meet At Ames". Newspapers.com. The Des Moines Register. July 15, 1925. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  5. "Catholic Made Assistant Superintendent of Chicago Schools". Newspapers.com. The Tidings (Los Angeles). NCWC News Service. 25 April 1924. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  6. "K. C. Free Evening Schools Enroll More than 2,500". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. 19 Sep 1920. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. Tarvardian, Arthur Norman (1992). "Battle Over the Chicago Schools: The Superintendency of William Mcandrew". Loyola University Chicago. p. 125. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  8. "William J. Bogan, Educator, Dies". Newspapers.com. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The Associated Press. 25 Mar 1936. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  9. "Education: McAndrew's Successor". Time. 9 July 1928. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  10. Tarvardian, Arthur Norman (1992). "Battle Over the Chicago Schools: The Superintendency of William Mcandrew". Loyola University Chicago. pp. 215 and 216. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  11. Counts, George S. (1928). School and Society in Chicago (1978 reprint ed.). Arno Press , Inc. p. 3. ISBN 040503704X.
  12. "Bogan Elected Chicago School Superintendent". Newspapers.com. The Indianapolis Star. The Associated Press. 28 Jun 1928. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  13. "BOMB HOME OF HEAD OF CHICAGO SCHOOLS; Racketeers Are Blamed for Explosion at 1 A.M. at W.J. Bogan's Residence. LITTLE DAMAGE IS CAUSED Blast Seen as Warning in Fight to Organize Small Storekeepers Against School Cafeterias". The New York Times. 23 October 1932. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  14. "Mental Test Ordered for All Chicago Pupils; School Head Acts After Boy's Slaying of Baby". The New York Times. 14 April 1934. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  15. White, Theresa Mary (1988). "Coping with Administrative Pressures in the Chicago Schools' Superintendency: An Analysis of William Henry Johnson, 1936-1946". Loyola University Chicago. pp. 80 and 81. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
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