The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-17
LOOKFOR NEW
FIGHT TO PUT
THURSTONOUT
Parents Expect Revival of
School Issue With Van
Schaick Head of Board.

will Superintendent Thurston go?"
This is a question. which is arous-
ing considerable discussion among
teachers, Parents League members,
and organized labor in the District.
IL is known that DR.. John Van
Schaick. jr., newly elected president
of the Board OF Education, is not on
the best Of terms with the Superin-
tendent of schools.
During a controversy previous to
the one which has been raging in the
public schools OF Washington this
year, an effort was made by several
members OF the board to GUST the
superintendent Of schools. Inc fight
was led by DR.. Van Schaick, at that
time president OF the board.
Superintendent Thurston's opponent,
who claimed he was not fitted for
the office of superintendent, lost the
fight by a narrow margin and when
DR.. Van Schsick sailed to do relief
work in France and Belgium the
movement subsidized.
Agitation Is Revived.
When DR.. Van Schaick returned to
Washington. however, the tension in
the Board of Education, already ag-
gravated by the Wood case and the
Bruce case, became more apparent.
Persons closely in touch with the
school situation know that any re-
newaI of the fight against Superin-
tendent ThUrston hinged largely
on the outcome of the school elections
last month.
The 1900 public school teachers Of
Washington whose opinions, as a rule,
constitute a great influence with the
board. were opposed to DR.. Van
Schaick during the previous contro-
versy, and favored Superintendent
Thurston. The opposite is the case
now among the greater number Of the
teachers.
Superintendent Thurstoa was a
member Of the informal committee"
which questioned Miss Alice Wood
concerning her handling Of economic
questions" IN an English class at
Western high school early this year.
When the committee reported back
TO the Board OF Education and Miss
Wood was suspended without q hear
ing, a storm Of criticism arose, led by
hhe High School Teachers Union, the
Grade School Teachers Union, and the
High School Teachers Association.
Superintendent Thurston, as a mem
her OF the committee, came in for a
portion OF the criticism
Lock to Van ScAaIek.
When the board refused to take any
conciliatory action, the teachers. cob
tinuing the fight looked forward to
the return Of Dr.. Van Schaick from
Europe.
He was hailed as the champion OF
the cause OF the teachers in the
Washington public schools, and the
support Of the instructors veered
from Mr. Hamilton, then president,
10 DR.. Van Schaick.
The election Of Dr. Van Schaick m
bers Of the board were inclined to
patch up the differences with the
900 teachers. They voted for DR..
Van Schaick, knowing Of his attitude
toward the superintendent of schools.
It il known that in case Of another
effort to remove the superintendent
of schools the teachers will continue
To support DR.. Van Schaick- Organ
lied labor in Washington has con-
tinualIy supported the teachers
unions-a part of organized labor
here-and indications are that this
support will be continued in case OF
another movement to remove Super
intendent Thurston.
The Parents League, composed Of
10000 colored fathers and mothers OF
the District, 10 frankly opposed to Su-
perintendent ThUrston because OF his
attitude in the case of Roscoe c.
Bruce, colored assistant superinten-
dent OF schools, whose removal the
league is demanding.
While DR.. Van Schaick has given no
indication OF any steps to be taken
against Superintendent Thurston, IL is
considered more than probable that
The weeks immediately preceding the
start Of the fall term will see a lively
controversy raging within the walls
Of the Franklin School, where the
board holds it's meetings.
DR.. Van Schaick plans to return to
washington next month.