The Washington times., 1919-07-18
FAIR PLAY IS
PROMISEDBY
VAN SCHA|CK
Will Work for Best Interests of
All, Says New School Head in
Formal Statement.

An era Of reconstruction in the
public school system Of Washington is
inaugurated today by DR.. Van
Schaick, jr., newly elected president
of the board, in q formal statement
conciliatory in expression to teach
ers, Parents League, organized labor,
and the members Of the board.
DR.. Van Schaick in his statement
takes steps, as foreseen In The Times
on Monday, to bring together all par
ties in the school controversies. He
promises fair play and pledges him
self, as president Of the board, to
work for the best interests Of all
concerned.
BIames Misunderstanding.
He also intimAtes that a greater
portion Of the school controversies
have been brought about by mis-
understanding between the members
Of the board and their critics, and
says that several members Of the
board have been misunderstood and
misjudged."
The statement also holds forth 4
promise to the teachers that the
board will give them an opportunity
to help shape educational policies In
the District
e.
dent of the board, comes in for praise
by DR.. Van SchAick.
DR.. Van Schaick's statement reads
az follows:
"I wish TO say q word about George
E Hamilton, who has been president
Of the Board of Education and acting
president during the past two years.
1T would be an impertinence for
me to defend Mr.. Hamilton in the
National Capital. He is SO widely
known and has been so signally hon
ored at the bar and in business that
his position is assured.
Praises HanIItOA.
"In connection with the Board Of
Education ] happen to be in posi-
tion to know that Mr.. Hamilton went
on the board At a great personal sac
Tifiee. with reluctance when he con-
sidered othsr obligations resting
upon him and from q high sense OF
public duty.
.lOf him ana every other member
of the board, It can be said, with alb
solute and literal truth that they
have never sought any office IN the
gift OF the board. The only exception
~ hat statement Is when voted for
rnvgeIf for president in 1916, and was
elected, 5 to 4.
at car also be said Of each and
every member, and of nobody more
than Mr.. Hamilton, that not one act
since I have. been on the board has
been coIored In the slightest by party
-since public feeling has run high
over the Wood case and over the
Bruce case, several members OF the
board have been misunderstood ana
,mistudged.
Anxious to Help.
cit would be hard to and in WASH
snRton q group of people more SYM
'DathetIc with teachers and more anx-
5ous to dignity the profession than
my COLLEAGUES on the Board OF Eou-
cation. And before the Wood case
came up, Mr.. Hamilton brought for
ward in the board a plan to give
teachers a better chance to express
their opinions and to help shape edu-
eational policy In the District.
81 say these things simply in the
ynterest of fair play. 1 will not re-
omen matters done by the board in my
absence or criticise them, whether
agree with them or not When they
come up again, or any matter comes
mn. I shall be ready to bring the best
thought ] have to bear upon them.
Conservative Washington is less
conservative than some people think.
and radical Washington is less radical
than other people think. In school
matters, IT is a good opportunity to
put our theories of cooperation into
practice. I intend to try"