The Washington herald., 1920-02-25
THURSTON CASE
MAY COME OUT
BEFORE SENATE
Five Members on Commit
tee to Probe Into Wash
ington School System.
STAR CHAMBER" HIT
Exhaustive Investigation Is
Expected to Bring Out
Cause of Strife.

Five United States Senators, as IL
were in the guise of consulting sur
geohs, soon will probe into wash
ington's public school system.
searching for the root of the trouble
that has manifested itself in dissen-
sion in the Board of Education.
Without a dissenting vote, the up-
per house Of Congress yesterday
adopted the resolution of Senstor
Harrison, Mississippi, calling for a
probe into what he terms the intol-
cradle condition of the Washington
public schools" The LEGISLATORS pre-
viously registered their approva, n,
an amendment by Senator Myers.
Montana, providing full investiga-
ton of "the policy and influence Of
the teachers unions in the conduct
and management of the schools and
the extent to which the said unions
control teachers, members of the
School Board and the selection Of
teachers
other Inquiries Due.
A special committee Of five members
will conduct the investigation. Indi-
cations are that simultaneous in
quiries will be instituted by several
organizations.
appointment Of a committee to look
into the dispute between DR.. John Van
Schaick, jr., president of the Board OF
Education, and Ernest L. Thurston.
superintendent OF schools, will be in
order at a meeting Of the school COM
mittee, Washington Board of Trade.
next Wednesday. The School Better
lnent Council also is deeply interested
IN any move looking toward clarified
ton OF the atmosphere surrounding
the school situation.
The Senate investigators will omen
with an examination of the manner
OF appointing school officials and
teachers, salaries, accommodations for
pupils, sanitation and similar obvious
matters But they will 60 further
under that clause OF Senate. Haa1-
sons resolution Calling for reviewing
of ANY policies now in operation that
seem fit subject for inquiry"
Questions Before COMMITTEES
The committee probably will want to
know: AnE-
Cd What is the reason for star
chamber proceedings by the Board Of
Education and the law of silence laid
upon the lips of members as to hap
penings in secret seS sions
(9 Why has friction between the
board and the superintendent of
schools developed to such a point that
the latter has been virtually told to
look for a new post
(SD Why should the board have been
confronted by such a situation as oc-
Cured last fall when colored parents
threatened to withdraw their children
from the schools if Roscoe c. Bruce
were retained as a member Of the
body?
Cd Whether unions among teach
ers has brought the taint of Belshe-
vism to debilitate the school sys-
tenn.
Going Into Details.
The investigation will be OF the most
exhaustive nature. it is promised. II
is hardly likely that a report can be
formulated before the end of the pres
ent session. but one that fully covers
every phase Of the schools is assured.
Ordinarily the investigation would
have been conducted by the Senate
District Committee. but Chairman
Sherman preferred that the matter be
undertaken by a special committee
Senator Jones. Washington. requested
that some members of the Appropria-
tions Committee be included as they
are familiar with school conditions