Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-10

That Ernest L. Thurston. assistant
superintendent in charge of white
schools. is to be the next school super
intendent of the District is the belief
OF a large number of persons in close
touch with the school situation. The
selection may be made at the executive
session which undou btedly will fol-
low the regular meeting of the board
of education this afternoon. the ap
pointment may be postponed until
later date in the near future
As matter of fact, ii is not positively
known just who the new superintendent
Will be, not even by the members OF the
board themselves. inasmuch as no con-
ference on this subject has Yet been held
number of signs. however. which ap-
pear below the surface of school affairs,
strongly indicate that Mr.. Thurston VIII
be the boards next choice.
Any number of local and outside can
didates have been in the field for the
place. 1t is believed. however, that no
outside man has Vet been mentioned
who is big enough" TO be brought here
over the heads of the best of the Wash
ington candidates. The number Of those
who really had a good chance for the
position narrowed rapidly after about
a score of men and women had been
mentioned from the local ranks.
Must Select Superintendent
L
superintendent be filled when DR.. Will
liam NJ Davidson. the depar ting super
intendent, leaves. Although many ac-
| tivities can be handled by ass slant
superintendent. such as the handling
| of the pay rolls, certain other, such
as the appointment of a teacher cannot
be executed by any one other than the
superintendent himself.
1t is also understood that the law on
this subject prevents the appointment o.
q man temporarily-at least obviously
| temporarilyand that he must be appoint
ed for the full term of three years.
| A temporary appointment m ght be de-
sirable, OF course, If it was contemplated
| to bring man in from out of town. AZ
| 1T is now believed that no man who
has so far doomed up from out OF town
who will be chosen by the board, this
course is deemed unlikely.
Inasmuch as large number of per-
sons in Washington consider that Mr.
Thurston is the logical successor to
| DIR. Davidson, being his assistant, ne
| has been one of the strongest candi
dates from the start. Unless the unex-
pected happens. he will be the next
those who stand close in touch with
school affairs.
Assistant Two and Half Years.
| Mr. Thurston was made assistant
superintendent of schools shortly be
| fore the arrival here of DR. Davidson
as the chief executive of the system
! In his official capacity for the last two
and a half years he has had under his
charge a large amount of admins
trative work as well as the Other
branches of school activity.
He was appointed TO his present positioa
from that of supervising principal of the
third division. Prior to that time he was
teacher in TIE high schools.
In addition to being official of the
Districts schools, Mr.. Thurston is an
author of a number of text books which
are In use in various parts of the countr!
today. In his official capacity he has
come closely i'm touch with both the grade
and the high schools. He is chairman o.
the committee which was selected 10
wise the courses of study in the schools
here.