Evening star., 1920-03-24
''SECRET METHOD
USED AGAINST Me-"
THURSTON AYERS

THURSTON AYERS
Continued from First Pase.)
suggestion In 1t Of a conference OF
Of reversal Of judgment.
The letter clearly showed a board
decision. although the meeting wal
that all members were hot present.
The action was taken without any
attempt on the part Of the board In
three years to discuss with me any
shortcomings on my part, or any
angles of my relations with II. which
for such action as was later taken
NO charge had been made against me
did not consider that action taken
without any opportunity for confer
ence or defense was fair to the su
perintendent.
conference. came at the end Of q Pc
riod Of secret action. hostile to the
superintendent, without just cause
that could see, that had forced me
several times to protest. ] had been
excluded from the Bruce hearing. !
had besn denied the Bruce testimony.
l had been excluded from the Bruce
conference. ! had fought in secret
session an attempt to place the blame
In the Wood case on me. 7 had been
kept In ignorance Of facts concern
Ing the surveys. I knew that secret
conference had been held without the
presence OF the superintendent. I had
positive feeling that there was no
possibility Of fair action or fair con.
stderation in secret Of this last ac-
tion relative to my election. I had
been forced to lose faith In private
conferences, and felt impelled in
Justice to myself to bring the mat
ter officially before the board.
Acted I'm self-Respect.
demanded that ! should know the
reasons for the action In order that
l might have q chance to meet them,
and that only publicity would bring
them out.
I had risen from the bottom to
the top Of the system through various
offices on merit. I could not now
could not seek any other position
without being able to say why I was
severing connection with the system
l had served so long.
Il knew that publicity by indirec-
tion was only a matter Of g. few
days at most. AS soon as the board
or superintendent began to discuss
the superintendency with any one
the matter was sure to become pub
lic within q short time. It was fair
to bring 1t out and the action would
be better understood than were 1t
allowed to leak out.
I have always felt that the schools
are OF vital concern to the COM
munity. have believed far more
than the board that the public should
be kept informed as to school condi-
tions. The superintendent Is an i'm
portant public officer. His position
Is very different from that Of an
the public had a right to know the
proposed change"
Mr.. Thurston then took up the Ques-
tion Of his threatened dismissal. quot
ing from the testimony Of DR.. Van
Schaick. who. the witness said. 'in-
tends to make this committee under
stand that the only question before
the board Of education Is that of dis
the services of the present
at the expiration Of
his present term. Juno 80. 1920"
Quotes From Omcial Files.
"As a matter Of fact" said the
either DR.. Van Schaick
Is not stating the facts in this case
or he has misstated them on another
occasion. The board. according to
DR.: Van Schaick. has not only con-
stdered the ending Of the term Of
the present superintendent on June 80.
1870. but 1t has actually considered
his dismissal before that time. Very
recently there was in the onicial files
Of the board Of education an oficial
carbon dated February %. 1920. ad-
dressed to DR.. H B. Learned in Cali
fornia. and marked as dictated by
Dr.. Van Schaick. The 6rst paragraph
of that letter I quote as follows:
Il am deeply grateful for your two
fAlR0FQ n ~ To
! got back from the Cleveland trip I
found that the Senate had appointed
committee to inteatigate the
schools. We agreed. ahereeore, not
to take any action pending that in
vestigation unless such action was
certain courses which. we Consider
disloyal and hurtful to the schools
we VIII dismiss him instantly upon
the grounds Of ineficiency, but re-
spect for the Senate calls sor delay
at this juncture.'
probability the superintendent is
holding his position at the present
time solely because Of the action of
the United States Senate in appoint.
Ing this committee. It is interesting.
also. that II dismissed. he was to be
dismissed on one charge in the minds
OF the board members and on another
charge before the public" -.
Comments ON Criticisms,
Criticisms Of the superintendent
maze Dy tho board In its letter noti-
be reelected were quoted by Mr..
Thurston, on which he commented as
follows: -
Throughout the testimony constant
reference is made to my alleged dis
loyalty. and this term lis substituted
- ri "a ~
ficially worded. that of differences
between the superintendent and the
board. In the original charge there
need not be involved necessarily any
charge of disloyalty. 1t is evident,
therefore. that the board Is changing
ing:
II have listened in vain thus far
throughout the hearing for any clear
definition or statement showing
wherein my alleged disloyalty con-
sists. It is only by indirection that
consists in my attitude in certain pub
lie meetings. and in the expressions of
opinion on school policies made by
certain of my friends. In other words.
DR.. Van Schaick's point is that unless
approve absolutely of the boards
entirely quiet. or support that policy
in full.
Position Embafrassing.
"The superintendent in connection
with this matter Is in an embar-
RAISING position. The board of edu-
cation has shown consistently that
it will not discuss matters in public
session All discussion goes on in
secret session and the utmost in
sistence is laid upon the fact that
nothing that goes on in these ses-
sfons shall be made known to people
who are not present. The result is
that MANY administrative and board