Keeping True to the Cathedral Within: A Case Study of Wheaton Academy and the Initiation

359 Pages·2016·0.93 MB·English

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Barbara Dill-Varga
Loyola University Chicago
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Dill-Varga, Barbara, "Keeping True to the Cathedral Within: A Case Study of Wheaton Academy and the
Initiation, Development, and Fulfillment of Its Christian Saga of Social Justice" (2011). Dissertations. 64.
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Copyright © 2011 Barbara Dill-Varga
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

KEEPING TRUE TO THE CATHEDRAL WITHIN:
A CASE STUDY OF WHEATON ACADEMY AND THE
INITIATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND FULFILLMENT OF ITS
CHRISTIAN SAGA OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO
THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

PROGRAM IN ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION

BY
BARBARA DILL-VARGA
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
MAY 2011
Copyright by Barbara Dill-Varga, 2011
All rights reserved.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To those who supported me with their time, their encouragement, their wisdom,
and their love, I dedicate this work. I would especially like to express my gratitude to:
Professional colleagues, friends, and family who expressed interest in my work
and listened to me verbalize and redefine my ideas through numerous conversations;
Dr. Fine, Dr. Docekal, and Dr. Roemer for their willingness to sit on my
dissertation committee, providing support and guidance throughout this very long
process;
Alumni and employees of Wheaton College and Wheaton Academy for their
enthusiastic participation in my research process, especially Dr. Gene Frost, Mr. Jon
Keith, Dr. David Roth, Mr. Mel Johnson, and Mr. Mac Airhart;
My son Alex and husband Steve, for without their support, I would not have had
the time and energy to complete the work necessary to complete this project;
And finally to the guidance and sustaining power of my Heavenly Father to whom
all the glory should be given. As David Roth would say, “Soli Deo Gloria.”

Barb Dill-Varga
May 2011
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...............................................................................................iii

LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................................ix

ABSTRACT .....................................................................................................................x

INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1
Purpose....................................................................................................................5
Need for the Study..................................................................................................5

CHAPTER I: REVIEW OF THEORETICAL LITERATURE..........................................7
Hargreaves and Fink’s Sustainable Leadership .....................................................7
Burtchaell’s Dying of the Light.............................................................................. 9
Robert Benne’s Framework in Quality with Soul.................................................11
David Whetten and Stuart Albert’s Organizational Identity ...............................15
Burton Clarke’s Organizational Saga...................................................................16
Crosswalk of Four Frameworks............................................................................21
A Compelling Central Vision That Matters..............................................22
A View That is Distinctive and Demands Action.....................................22
A Vision That Endures Over Time Because Key Personnel are
Empowered Through Distributive Leadership.......................................23

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.......................................26
What is an Academy?...........................................................................................26
The Age of the Academies....................................................................................28
The Second Great Awakening and Origins of the Vision of Social Justice.........31
A Few Academies From History..........................................................................32
The Phillips Academies, 1781 to Present.................................................32
Oberlin Academy, 1833-1916...................................................................34
Elgin Academy, 1839 to Present Day.......................................................36
The Decline of the Academies..............................................................................38
The Legacy of the Academies...............................................................................40

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY..................................................................................41
Historical Inquiry..................................................................................................41
Case Study............................................................................................................42
Organizational Life Stages as Organizing Metaphor............................................45
Research Questions...............................................................................................47
Primary Sources and Secondary Sources..............................................................48
Primary Sources........................................................................................49
Secondary Sources....................................................................................50
Interviews..............................................................................................................51
Participant Selection.............................................................................................52
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Theory-based Sampling............................................................................52
Snowball or Chain-referral Sampling.......................................................53
Invitation to Participate.........................................................................................53
Interview Procedures............................................................................................54
Data Analysis........................................................................................................54
Researcher’s Qualifications and Limitations........................................................55

CHAPTER IV: INITIATION OF THE VISION: THE ACADEMY
FROM 1853 TO 1949...........................................................................................59
The Story Begins...................................................................................................59
Jonathan Blanchard’s Ancestral Heritage of Reform and Protest........................59
Christian Commitment, Faith, and Early Stand Against Moral Evils.......61
School and Societal Reformer..................................................................63
Abolitionism.............................................................................................66
Anti-Masonry............................................................................................71
College President......................................................................................71
Birth of an Institution, 1853..................................................................................76
Birth of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in America..............................78
Reverend John C. Cross, 1853..................................................................80
Reverend Charles F. Winship, 1855.........................................................81
Reverend J. A. Martling, 1856..................................................................82
Reverend Lucius C. Matlock, 1856..........................................................82
The Blanchards.....................................................................................................83
Jonathan Blanchard, 1860.........................................................................83
Origins of the Grassy Knoll Saga.............................................................85
Charles A. Blanchard................................................................................92
Blanchard-Fischer Dynasty.......................................................................95
Charles Blanchard and the National Christian Association......................96
Fundraising...............................................................................................98
Darien A. Straw, 1882-1910...................................................................100
William F. Rice, 1915-1922....................................................................101
Edward R. Schell, 1928-1949.................................................................103
Academy Moves to Prince Crossing Road in West Chicago, 1945....................106
LeTourneau Gymnasium, 1948..............................................................107
Clyde S. Kilby’s Study of the Academy, 1944.......................................108
Significance of the Move in 1945...........................................................113
Organizational Ethos: Statement of Faith and the Standards of Conduct..........115
Standards of Conduct..............................................................................122
College Motto “For Christ and His Kingdom”...................................................129

CHAPTER V: ANALYSIS OF THE INITIATION OF THE VISION:
THE ACADEMY FROM 1853 TO 1949...........................................................131

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CHAPTER VI: DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISION: THE ACADEMY
FROM 1950 TO 1988.........................................................................................141
Reverend Robert L. Gilbert, 1950.......................................................................141
The Great Revival, 1950.....................................................................................141
Alumni Chapel Dedication, 1951 ......................................................................143
Cyril D. Garrett, 1952.........................................................................................144
The Centennial Celebration, 1953......................................................................144
Letter to President Edman About Teacher Turnover, 1953................................148
Mel Johnson, 1955..............................................................................................150
Emancipation from the College, 1958................................................................152
Back Home Again, 1961.....................................................................................157
Wendell Lovelace, 1960.....................................................................................158
Reemphasizing Behaviors and Practices, 1960..................................................159
John Blanchard, 1962..........................................................................................160
Separate Academy Board Established by College, 1964....................................162
James Fenton, 1965.............................................................................................164
Gil Dodds…........................................................................................................165
Wheaton College’s Increasing Concerns............................................................166
By-Laws for Wheaton Christian High School, 1970..........................................185
Charles Strobeck, Board Member.......................................................................187
The Dark Ages....................................................................................................189
William C. Newell, 1974....................................................................................190
Fire Marshal Report on Violations, 1976...........................................................191
Wheaton Christian High School – Alumni Association, 1978...........................192
The Gieser Familly and the Wheaton Eye Clinic...............................................193
Paul “Pep” Peterson, 1982..................................................................................195
Dr. James Watson, 1985.....................................................................................196
Henrietta VanDerMolen and the Mortgage, 1988..............................................197
Looking Back to 1981: Mr. Jon Keith – A Glimmer of Light............................199
Mac Airhart.........................................................................................................203
David Roth, 1988................................................................................................212

CHAPTER VII: ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISION:
THE ACADEMY FROM 1950 TO 1988...........................................................213

CHAPTER VIII: FULFILLMENT OF THE VISION: THE ACADEMY
FROM 1989 TO 2011.........................................................................................220
Dr. David Roth, 1989..........................................................................................220
Reconstituting the School and its Mission, 1989-90..........................................223
For Christ and His Kingdom to Soli Deo Gloria................................................226
Wheaton Academy Immutables..........................................................................227
Five “Immutables” from Jon Keith.....................................................................228
First Immutable: Living Curriculum Teachers.......................................229
Second Immutable: Mature Culture........................................................230
Third Immutable: Parent Partnership......................................................231
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Fourth Immutable: Spiritual Culture.......................................................231
Fifth Immutable: Being an “AND Institution”.......................................232
Living Curriculum Teachers...............................................................................233
The Napkin and the Yearbook............................................................................234
Teacher Hiring Requirements.............................................................................236
Double-Teamers and a New Design for Teacher Evaluation.............................238
Winterim Program Launched, 1990-91..............................................................240
140th Anniversary Chapel Address by Gene Frost, 1993....................................241
Stones of Remembrance Chapel Talk, 1994.......................................................243
Some Stones, Not So Remembered....................................................................244
Wheaton Christian High School Reclaims Original Name, 1994-95.................246
Letter to Parents About Name Change...............................................................249
The Foundation of New Era Philanthropy, 1995................................................250
Financial Need – The Do’s and Don’ts...............................................................252
Student Enrollment and Demand on Upward Track...........................................254
Materials Provided to Prospective Students, 1995-96........................................254
Student Application, Signing the Pledge............................................................256
Vision 2003 Campaign, 1998.............................................................................258
The Zambia Project and a Growing Sense of Social Justice, 2002....................258
Project Moyo.......................................................................................................260
Local Service Initiatives Developing..................................................................261
Least....................................................................................................................261
Growth of Wheaton Academy’s Culture of Service...........................................262
Defining the Soul of Wheaton Academy as the Torch is Passed, 2006..............263
Dr. Gene Frost, 2006...........................................................................................270
Frost’s Learning from the Best...........................................................................272
Abolishment of the Wheaton Academy Corporation..........................................275
October 2007 Transforming Every Student: The Campaign for Wheaton
Academy...........................................................................................................277
Heritage Field House Prayer Walk, 2008...........................................................278
Heritage Project, 2009 .......................................................................................279
Intentional Enrollment and Screening of Student Applications.........................279
International Student Program Increases Global Awareness, 2008....................281
January Retreat, a Time of Organizational Reflection and Visioning 2011.......282
The Work Still to Be Done.................................................................................285

CHAPTER IX: ANALYSIS OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THE VISION:
THE ACADEMY FROM 1989 TO 2011...........................................................286

CHAPTER X: ANSWERS TO THE DISSERTATION RESEARCH QUESTIONS...296

CHAPTER XI: SUSTAINING OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTITY:
IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS ...............................................301

CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................309
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APPENDIX A: LETTER REQUESTING INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION.........311

APPENDIX B: LETTER OF INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION.............................313

APPENDIX C: SYNOPSIS OF RESEARCH................................................................315

APPENDIX D: RESEARCH PARTICIPANT MEMBER’S CONSENT TO
PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH........................................................................318

APPENDIX E: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS..................................................................322

APPENDIX F: TRANSCRIBER CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.....................324

APPENDIX G: EIGHT STAGES IN THE LIFE OF AN ORGANIZATION...............326

BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................................328

VITA...............................................................................................................................345

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Crosswalk of Four Frameworks: Benne, Hargreaves/Fink, Whetten/
Albert, and Clarke.................................................................................................25
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