Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-02
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
18th st. aAd Pennsylvania Avenue.
The School Superintendency.

AAC 6SA2ooA 0upCAAAICuUCACys
Washingt0h's school system has been
seriously disturbed during the past
dozen yearsaby agitations and changes,
which have profted little and done much
harm. Aftes a prolonged discussion and
contest in congress new organic ACT
was passed gin 1906, which completely
altered the manner of naming the school
board and changed the composition Of
the board itself The new board named
under that act proceeded to make a
change in fhe superintendency, after
much searching importing a man from
New Jerse53 who proved to be total
misfit in tla local school system. After
q stormy administration he was deposed
on charged Of incompetence and in
subordinaittn, and the former super
tntendent efplaced him. At the expira-
ton of TN latter's term another man
from the outside was brought into the
system wlA served for three years and
then wen'ito higher ,salaried position
In anotheH city. He was succeeded by
. local nin, promoted from the school
organizat In. Mr.. Thurston's term of
three yesx will expire June 80. 1t is
now plan Nd, according to report, to re-
place hin with another man from out
side of y shington.
Inc ch 4ge in the superintendency at
present vi tnld be disastrous to the school
system, lamentable mistake from
every pc At of view It would cause
another &heaval in the schools, disturb
ing the hching body, lowering its eff
cheney q shaking the confidence of
the pub. in the educational system.
Such a cAhnge should be contemplated
only as matter of extreme necessity.
There is 10 such necessity at present.
Supt. 14urston's administration of the
school sy fem has been capable and con-
scaentiou He has conducted his office
with dig fty, with minimum of fric-
zion and 18th educational efficiency. He
has deve pped remarkably during the
three veal Of his present term, and has
acquired q creditably high standing
among thu American educators as q man
OF capacity. He has been fair and excep-
tionally s4illful in handling the delicate
and diff Sllt problems that the public
schools IL Washington always present in
h 90
systems one for the two races.
1t is dtficult to conceive any good
reason fo3 such a change as that now
suggesteds No charges have been fled
against sApt. Thurston. He has vio-
lated no Jules of conduct, personal or
oficial. Bf possesses the full confidence
OF the teaching body. He is going ahead
carefully hut effectively for reforms and
changes in the school system, with the
full approval of the board of education.
he has necessarily made some opponents
BY steadfast performance of his duty
and fearless discharge Of his respon-
abilities in the maintenance Of disci-
pine. Internationally he has given
Washington one of the best school adj
ministrations it has enjoyed in MANY
years. Personally he has won the es-
TEEN and the respect of all with whom he
has dealt.
To refuse election to such a ca
pable, conscientious official would be
justified only on some ground of com
plant of serious character. Nothing
has been advanced Of this nature. The
allegations Of those opposed to the su-
perintendent relate to mere matters of
temperament. Against them stands a
record Of achievements which it would
be hard to parallel in the educational
history of Washington.
No school system can progress or
thrive in a constant state of change.
Washington has had four superintend-
ents within eleven years. Yet it is sup-
gested to change the present efficient
and popular superintendent for some
unknown, doubtless unsolicited man.
making fifth, who himself may not be
expected to stay longer than the term
OF his election if the present policy of
constant experimenting is pursued
What can be done toward real deyelop-
ment in such circumstances How can
any body of teachers. the most CONNIE
tent and conscientious in the world. be
expected to do the best work in the
way of child training under such CON
ditions?