Evening star., 1920-03-24
School Superintendent, Be-
fore Committee, Contra
diets Van SChaick.
LETTER HINTS AT WAY
HE MAY BE DISMISSED
Discussions Take Place in Sc
cret Conferences" Wit
ness Says.


returned from Europe last year
Supt. Ernest L. Thurston told the
Senate committee investigating the
public school system at it's hearing
today when he appeared to answer
criticism of his administration by
members of the board of education.
In substantiation of his charge thai
the board of education. or at least q
dominant group in the board, had
worked in secret and had ignored tc
large extent the superintendent OF
schools, Supt. Thurston presented the
following statements:
First. that the board had determined
not to re-elect him and had so noti-
fed him after a secret conference
without having made any charges
against him.
Second. that he was excluded from
the hearings in the investigation OF
Asst Supt- Bruce of the colored
schools and that he was furnished
with no copy of the testimony taken
in that case.
Third, that he was not kept in
formed regarding the proposed sur
vey of the public schools here by the
United States bureau of education.
Copies Sent to Others.
Mr. Thurston said in connection
with the last matter that he had dis
covered recently that copies of pre-
liminary report regarding this sur
vey had been sent to three leaders of
the teachers union-Miss Deal. Miss
Alton and Mrs. Draper-and also to
DIR. Small of the bureau of education.
although none had been furni shed
him. These reports, he said, were ap-
parently sent out by the board.
- II r-& ~ Ntvx~~r
ton testified in direct opposition to
testimony previously given by DR..
Van Schaick. When the president OF
the board of education appeared be-
fore the committee he said that he
would not have opposed Mr.. Thur5ton
having copy of the testimony in the
Bruce case.
Mr. Thurston said today that he had
repeatedly asked for copies of this
testimony. and that on at least one of
these occasions DR.. Van Schaick had
been present
Contradfcts DR.. Van Schaick.
The superintendent's testimony also
contradicted that of DR.. Van Schaick
regarding the survey by the United
Schaick having given the cnmmttteA
TO understand that the stlperiAaendent
was kept fully informed regarding
the matter.
Mr.. Thurston told the committee
that in 1917 DIR. Van Schaick went to
the National Educational Association
convention without any authority
from the board in search of a success
sor to him as superintendent of
schools
Il heard of it twenty-four hours
afterward." said Mr.. Thurston.
"Dr. Van Schaick at that time had
been president of the board less than
year, hadn't he?" asked Senator
Walsh.
six or eight months" was the
reply.
Quotes Letter OF February 2S.
The superintendent testified that on
February Is. 1920, DR.. Van Schaick
wrote a letter to DIR. Learned. another
member of the board, in California. in
which Dr. Van Schaick said: 'If
Thurston resumes certain courses, we
will dismiss him. instantly. on the
ground of inefficiency.''
This letter Mr.. Thurston said he
had obtained from the official files OF
the board He said that it did not
appear in the correspondence between
Or Van Schaick, and DR.. Learned
which had been furnished the COM
mittee. at its request. by DR.. Van
Schaick.
Mr.. Thurston said that apparently
the letter contained a threat of in
slant dismissal because of certain
courses which he might pursue, al
though If the dismissal followed il
would be announced to the public that
the superintendent had been dismissed
because Of inefficiency.
The balance of the letter of February
IS. Mr.. Thurston said. dealt with possi-
ble SUCCESSORS TO himself. He, therefore
did not read it, as it might be en-
barrassing to the board, but submitted
il to the committee.
Charged With DisIOyalty.
"Dr. Van Schaick charged me with
being disloyal," said Mr. Thurston. He
said that there could be differences be-
tween the board and the superintendent
without any disloyalty implied, and add
ed, IL have listened to the Testimony
throughout. but have heard no SPECIFIC
instances Of disloyalty charged against
me-
The board has shown in the mas
that 1t Will discuss nothing in public
sessions; that its discussions take place
ia secret conferences"
LAS a matter of fact Mr. Thurston. e.
asked Senator Walsh. the real business
of the board is done in secret conference
and the open sessions of the board are
q bluff"
Mr.. Thurston said that the real bust.
ness is done in the conferences and is
ratified in the open meeting of the board
Mr.. Thurston's Statement.
The statement of Mr. Thurston N III.
Senate committee is in part as fol
lows:
I'm view of the fact that the tren,
of the present school investigation b,
this committee has been influence,
more or less by my action in pIacins
on public record the letter of notifica
tfon from DR.. Van Schaick concernin,
the termination of my services as su
perintendent at the end of the presen
fiscal year. i feel 1t very advisable =,
state definitely and clearly nv rea
sons for this act.
"On February II I received the weI
known communication from DR. Va,
Schaick stating the determination n
The majority of the members OF tn
board. My reaction to the notice wa,
instant and positive In favor of nlac
ing the matter on formal record. / de
cided on my line of action and the,
consulted with two or three peonlf
who fully agreed with me- l. there
fore, wrote my letter TO the Who'll
board saying in effect, if this is Won
Judgment go on record. My reason
were as follows:
The letter was not marked conf
dental nor was there any suggestio
in IL that the board desired il to b
that il rested entirely with me as I
what disposition | made of it
The letter was positive. 1t CAV
= final decision. There was no hint o
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