Evening star., 1911-06-05

Positive acceptance by William Mehard
Davidson of Omaha, Neb, Of the offer
of the board Of education to appoint him
superintendent of public schools of the
District of Columbia is in the hands of
James F. Oyster. president of the board
of education. Ernest L. Thurston was
recommended late this afternoon for the
position of assistant superintendent Of
schools. to fill the vacancy created by the
resignation of Percy NJ. Hughes, and
Mrs. William H. Harris of 1893 l. street
northwest, was chosen by the Supreme
Court Of the District today as the sue
cessor to Mrs. Mary Church Terrell.
whose term of Office on the board OF edu-
cation will expire July 1.
James F. Oyster and Ernest c. Daniel
were reappointed members of the board
of education by the Supreme Court Of the
District of Columbia this afternoon, their
terms to run for three years from July /.
Mrs. Mary Church Terrell withdrew her
name from consideration for reappoint-
ment. In letter to the court. Mrs. Ter
rell indicated very clearly that she was
not to be considered for another term.
These are but few of today's develop
ments in the school situation. Whether
or not there will be an amicable settle
ment of one or two of the minor problems
is one of the questions which people at
the board of education headquarters are
discussing behind the door"
A recommendation Of promotion to a
model school in the Cardozo building
lis one of the minor points Of difficulty to
be Strengthened out before the schools
enter on run with new captain at the
helm Rumors have it that the school
principals and other officials are backing
a certain teacher for promotion to the
model school. but that the board OF
education is not inclined to follow the
recommendation.
Program to Be Carried Out.
The acceptance by Mr.. Davidson was In
anticipation of the appointment which has
not been made, and will not be made
until after O'clock this afternoon, when,
at special meeting of the board of ed
ucation. the entire program as outlined
in The Sunday Star will be followed.
Omaha, after visit to the school Of
1icials of the District of Columbia. Be
fore he left this city he wrote an accept
ance of the position and gave 1t to Capt.
Oyster In this acceptance he said that
he could probably get more pay for his
services in Omaha, as there was a plan
there to give him more than he could
get here. but that he preferred to work
In Washington for several reasons,
Coming to Washington on thes train
Mr.. Davidson met William Jennings
Bryan. The two are friends Mr.. Bryan
gave Mr.. Davidson letter of introduc-
ton to Representative Ben Johnson.
chairman of the House District COM
mittee.
Capt Oyster called to see supt. A. T
Stuart at o'clock this morning.. but at
that hour the superintendent of schools
was visiting one Of the normal schools.
IL was said. Later Capt. Oyster tele-
phoned to Mr.. Stuart, asking whether
or not an assistant. superintendent had
been recommended. The answer came
back that no recommendation had been
talk Capt. Oyster asked Mr.. Stuart to
have luncheon with him, SO that the
matter could be settled before the meet
ing Of the board.
Decide on Mr.. Thurston.
Capt Oyster told q Star reporter who
was in his office during the telephone
conversation that the matter OF the as
sistant superintendency had been unde-
cided from the first: that no one knew
who would be appointed. but that the
board of education had a leaning toward
Ernest l.. Thurston. At the lunch table
later ii was decided to recommend MIR.
Thurston.
One more matter Of Importance which
has not been closed up is the recOmmen-
dation of Supt. Stuart regarding the text
books to be used In the schools for the
next three years. According to the rules
of the board. the superintendent must
make recommendations every February
for the text books to be used. 1t is a
difficult subject. and the text book com.
mittee of the board had much study in
connection with the report. When 1t be-
came evident that Supt. Stuart desired to
relinquish his position at the head of the
schools. the board thought II wise not to
adopt the report until new superin-
tendent would have q chance to see the
| list.