The Washington herald., 1920-03-26
3 .
NOT TOO SLOW,
THURSTON
Superintendent Also Denies
School Boards Charge
! He Is Timid.
DEFENDS HIS POLICY
AS Witness at Senate Probe
He Tells His Part In
Hunter Case.
DEFENDS HIS POLICY
Denying that he was timid and

Denying that he was timid and
slow to act. Ernest L. Thurston,
superintendent of schools, yesterday
told the Senate committee investi-
eating schools that the chief COM
blafnt Of the School Board was that
he had acted in opposition to their
wishes.
When the committee adjourned
he had concluded his explanation CT
his position in only two of the
kvafvs instances which board mem
bers had cited as exemplifying his
kimidity and procrastination- These
were the Randall and Hunter cases
AZ to Miss Charlotte Hunter, the
behool teacher connected with the
Moens case, Thurston declared he
bad refratned from laying the mat
eer before the board at the re-
uuest Of DR.. H B. Learned, men,
Ser Of the board and also an tnves-
fxgator for the Department Of JUS
dee, who told him the Moens case
WAS coming up In court in a few
bays and 1t might be construed as
kue1midation of a witness.
CritIeised BY DIR. Learned.
That was in December. 1913, he
katd and Miss Hunter continued to
zach INC IOI1O"ihb SPAih6s oo
Shs Mosns trial was postponed
through the winter. Thurston said
he was surprised to receive let
tar from DR.. Learned early In
March, crtticfstns him indirectly for
eaufng to make some recommenda-
tfons to the board in the Hunter
cAse-
He replied, he said. that he would
kake Il up at the next board meet
mg, which was March 1s. He
brought the case before the board
verbally. he said, on that date. and
nD surprised when DIT. Learned ad-
k4sed postponement
Thurston admitted he should have
nusde recommendations to the board
h writing. He said that he thought
hs board thoroughly understood his
position In the case
He said the board had given Miss
Hunter q hearing. at which Il was
Not Aetnated by Timidity.
Defending his action in bringing
Ehe cass to the attention Of the
board instead Of making a written
Recommendation for Miss Hunters
Rzmtssal Thurston declared that he
Has not actuated by timidity. but
Res merely exercising good tudg-
msnt In dealing with a hostile board
Taking up the case Of Miss Emily
Iwuson, whom he had appointed
from the seventh grade to an
eighth grade temporary principal
IN the grounds of educational pol
jcy. He declared that Miss Wilson
was an exceptionally good execu-
va AA
while Principal Syphax. of the Bell
school, was not so good an execu-
i've as he was a teacher.
Thurston charged that while the
seneraI objection made against him
~ board members was timfdity and
sLoWness to act, the principal com
platnt in the Wilson case was that
le acted contrary to the wishes of
he board
Defends Life Tenure Plan.
Thurston defended the life tenure
Eystem Of teachers, which has been
In vogue here since 1906, but said
J : was in favor of three-year pro-
battonal period instead of one year.
Superintendents and assistant su-
] ertntendents should be appointed
fJr life, he said, but thought that
D four-year term would be better,
tp allow them to develop a definite
slucattonal policy.
He admitted the board had the
r sht to employ whatever superin-
e. ndent 1t chose, but that his criti-
c. sm was that the board had not
b. en- fair to him He contended he
was not being let out becaue of
anything wrong in his official con-
huct.
Undoubtedly the board should
have had q conference with the su-
perintendent before deciding on his
dismissal" he said. ~for their ac-
hon in thds case amounts to q dis
% ssal, and would be 50 regarded
- ~kz>rSffrpal rfrrlsa Avervwhe re I"