Evening star., 1920-06-30

| ERNEST L.. THURSTON.
The term of Ernest Lawton Thurs
ton, as superintendent of the Dis
| trict public school system, expired
today and he vacated his Office in
| the Frankling School to give way to
his successor, DR.. Frank Washington
Ballou. For twenty-six and one-half
years Mr.. Thurston has been in the
school service and for six and one
half years of that time the superin-
tendent.
The last day in Office was utilized
by the superintendent in removing
personal property and completing his
annual report He will leave Wash
| ington tonight for Lumberton, N. j..
| to visit his wife and children, and
will return tomorrow night. On his
return Mr.. Thurston will make
statement to the public.
Mr.. Thurston was born at Fall
| River, Mass, February 13. 1873. He
| was a member on both sides of the
! house of old colonial New England
families. He was eduated in the
public grade schools of East Orange,
N. J.
Came to d. c. in 1887.
In 1887 Mr.. Thurston came to
w aSnlQSUOn, ana TWO years later was
graduated from the Washington High
School, which later became known as
Central High School. He then en-
tered George Washington University,
and after graduating entered Colum-
bian University. At the latter in
master of arts as an honorary de-
gree.
Mr. Thurston was married in 1909
to Miss Nina C. Clayberger of Lum-
l ~l~s1
a daughter and two sons. He is
member of the University Club. the
Rotary Club. the Board of Trade, the
Chamber of Commerce, the. Sixteenth
Street Highlands Citizens Associa-
tion, the Federal School Mems Club.
the National Education Association
and other organizations.
He entered the public school serv-
| ice in 1894 as teacher in the Business
High School, and later became a head
teacher and head of the general de-
partment of business practice in the
\ Washington high schools in 1906. He
became supervising principal, or divi-
sion superintendent, in 1908; assist
ant superintendent of white schools
I in 1911, and on the resignation of
| DR.. Davidson was elected superin-
tendent of schools January l., 1914;
was reelected July 1, 1914, for a
full term, and again reelected in
1917.
Books ON Business Topics.
! Mr.. Thurston has written several
books on business subjects, and has
edited books in other lines. He has
written for educational publications,
and also done some general writing.
| Among his. earlier writings were many
sketches in natural history written
! for children.
| During the period of his superinten-
dency there have been many and marked
changes and developments in the pub
! lie school system, far more than in any
preceding period of the same length
The night schools have had a remarka-
BILE development, and have been stand
ardized so that credit can be obtained
! for night school work in connection with
| the day school organization. The work
! has been much broadened and strength
ened. and developed to meet community
! needs. The enrolment has increased
! tremendously.
! The Business High School alone now
contains a larger enrolment than the
whole night school system did at the
beginning of the present superinten-
| dents term.
The vacation schools have been or
ganized as a new standard unit Of grade
and high school work. Public funds
| have been secured during Mr.. Thurston's g
term for their support and there are now
| two high schools and nineteen grade
| schools in which work Of standard char
| acter is done for which credit is al
lowed in the regular grades.
| Pre-vocationaI Schools.
The pre-vocational schools have had
large development within the term of
Supt. Thurston.
! The Smallwood Pre-vocational
School is in it's way a model. It has
been closely watched by visiting ed
ucators.
School gardening has been put on
firm basis, properly organized so far
as funds would, permit.
The Americanization work has been
completely organized as a separate
| unit and broadened from night work
Ito night and day work.
! Schools for tubercular children have
{! been separately organized and deveI-
| oped. Housekeeping classes have
been organized quite generally as an
/ extension of the domestic science in
struction in the grades. Experiments
in departmentalizing the higher grades
! have been made in various forms, in
spite of the restrictions offered by the
/ salary situation.
i During the recent year one full pla-
i toon school was organized and devel-
oped as model for similar schools in
this city. At the close OF the term
/ in June, at a meeting of the parents,
/ this school and it's work received
unanimous Endorsement and recogni-
Il tion as marked step forward in
/ grade education in this city.
\ Grouping Of Schools.
i Under Supt. Thurston. the grouping
of smaller school buildings has been
definitely started, in spite of difficult
! ties of law in relation to assignment
! of teachers. Quite a number Of these
groups now exist, offering better ad-
ministrative and organization units,
and making possible. some depart
mental work. Coaching teachers
have been introduced into a number
/ of schools and groups.
i Mr.. Thurston carried the school sys-
/ tenn through the serious period of the
war, when the general situation was
causing the loss of teachers; when
epidemics and coal famines created
serious conditions, and when It was
necessary to meet pupil needs to de-
velop plans for intensive courses of
study.
| | Aid PRESIDENTS WnRK