The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-26
TOACT
WEDNESDAY IN
SCHOOL ROWS
Bruce and Other Controversies
To Be Taken Up at Special
Session.

DR.. John Van schaiclC. trs newly
elected president Of the Board q
Education, will call the members g
the beard together in special session
10 dissuss the several school ccn-
IrOversies next Wednesday, accord
ing 70 Information received IN Wa9A-
inGton today.
DR.. Van sehaick, who 70 spending
his vacation IN New York state, wrote
last week to Miss Alice Deal. pfesi-
dent OF the High school Feachere
Union, and leader Of the teachers n
their controversy with the board. say.
Ing that the board would meet the
latter part Of the month.
Several members Of the board have
been informed BY DR.. Van Sehaiek
that wednesday has been selected as
the tentative date for the hrst meet
ing.
About the same time the board
meets in special session. Justice Hitz,
OF the District Supreme Court, Is eE-
pected to render . decision in the
case Of Miss Alice Wood. the Western
High School teacher, suspended Tor
her discussion Of current topieA
Justice Hitz % in the White Noun
tains on his vacation and will Feturn
within q few days. Paul D. Lesh. at
toEney for Miss Wood, anticipates the
publication OF the decision on, eP
about August I. Miss Wood q asking
that the order OF the Beard Of Edu-
cation suspendius her be rescinded.
inasmuch as she was not granted .
hearing before being suspended.
It was learned today that the coEar
mittee Of the High School Teachers
Union which started to rewrito the
school laws before the close q tAe
school year, has suspended It's work
temporarily. Miss Deal says that
the rewriting OF the school laws ~
the tsachefs viii probably be resumqa
before the start Of the school tsrn
this fail.
Ts Flnlsh ~ ran.
The movement for the rewriting e
the school laws was Instituted at the
time that Indignation over the Weed
case was at it's height, and interest
increased when the
Bruce case developed.
The school teachers have no idea of
abandoning their plans for rewriting
the school laws, union officials say,
and the work will probably be con-
pleted early in the fall. The proposed
new set Of school laws will be sub
mitted to the national Legislature
Senator Jones, it Is believed.
The Joint Citizens Committee for
an elective school board. OF which
Roy G. Claflin Is chairman, q e1-
pscted to have a measure providing
for election Of the board members ~
popular vote before Congress by tie
start OF the fall term Of school
Under the plan OF the joint commit
tee, the school board will consist oc
nine members, Of whom three shall Be
women; three Of the members colored:
two OF the white members women,
and one Of the colored members .
woman.
Some Of the members OF the joint
believe that women should
have equal representation on the
Board Of Education with the men,
but most Of the members agree that
the ratio should remain six to three.
DR.. Van Schaick's return to wash
lngtOn next week is being awaited
with considerable interest by all per-
sons connected with public schol AZ
fairs in Washington.
The possibility OF the renewal q
the fight to remove superintendent
Ernest L Thurston Is being discussed,
and the possibility OF a new super
being appointed Is conceded
BY many persons intimately acquafnt-
ed with the trend OF affairs in the
public schools.
DR.. Van Schaick, in the event OF
an effort to remove Superintendent
will have the support OF
the High School and Grade School
Teachers Union, composed Of about
so per cent Of the public school teach
ers in Washington. The High School
Teachers Association is also said to
be opposed to superintendent Thurs
ton, partially because OF the fact thar
he was on the committee which N
Miss Wood, and reported -
the board in such a way as to cause
Miss Woods suspension.
Bruce Case To Come %
The Bruce case Is also expected -
be taken up by the board at its meet
ing next week. The Parents League.
composed Of 10000 coIored people Of
which earned the praise
of District officials for its valuable
Aid during the race trouble, Is con-
.inuing to demand the removal OF
he coiored assistant superintendent-
Board members believe that some
sort Of action should be taken in thu
Bruce case in order to placate ths
Parents League. which 10 threaten
ng to take $4,000 or 10000 colorsd
children out of the colored public
schools and place them in privato
schools unless Bruce is removed.
DR.. Van Schaick was elected Prest-
lent of the Board last month through
he efforts Of the ParentS League.
which succeeded in obtaining for htm
ha dacfdinr vote and IL Il known