Evening star., 1920-03-10

Miss Wood, had been teaching boil
! shevism," said DR. Van Schaick.
| we may as well go into that case
now" said Mr.. Harrison. wv hat did
the board do in that instance?
knowledge Not Complete.
II was away in Europe when that
case came up, and when l came back
!; it was before the courts. 50 my knowl-
edge is not complete" the witness as
serted. Il know that Miss Wood was
called before special committee OF
the board"
Was the action of the board unani-
nous in the case of this teacher?
Il do not know. but 1 know the ac-
. tion Of the board was contrary to the
recommendation of the committee,
which was composed Of DR.. I-arned
and Mrs. Gerry" answered the wit
ress. II took the view that it would
not be courteous or loyal for me to
go into things that had happened
during my absence. I therefore took
no sides in the so-called Wood case
until the Supreme Court had acted.
Then l looked into it and prepared a
memorandum saying we had decided
not to appeal the case"
Did Mr.. Thurston originally bring
this case to the attention OF the
board?"
Il do not know, but 1 presume So"
Did this teacher deny that she be
lieved in bolshevismr'
Il have seen Miss Wood but once
since this case developed. She said
she did not believe in bolshevism. and
asked me to define some policy for
teaching current topics. l regard her
as very fine woman
Don't you think the board acted in
good faith?"
Il think they did. but that their pro-
faI m re-
lating to the moral character of a
teacher. the person under suspicion
should be given a hearing and should
have the right of counsel. Miss Wood
was never summoned before the
board"
Successful in Court.
'She took the matter into the courts
ard was SucceSsfulr'
Yes. She instituted mandamus
proceedings and was reinstated."
Wanted the Positions.
Toward the latter part of the hear
ing the witness caused some surprise
by saying that he believed the school
term should continue all the year
with short vaca tons between the win
ter sessions and summer sessions. and
with the usual vacations at Christmas
and Easter. Asked if that was an
original idea with him. DR.. Van
Thurston had suggested working to-
ward that end by increasing the scope
of the vacation schools.
What holidays are now granted
the pupils?" asked Senator Harrison.
The regular vacation at Christmas
and Easter. Washington's birthday.
and l cannot say just what others. l
would like to look up the official hol-
idays and put them in the record the
witness said.
Have you ever taken up the ques-
tion of whether too many holidays
were granted"'
Il have not: I have accepted the
practice as l found it"
DO you think that two weeks at
Easter time is too much?'
That is hard to say. But I would
like to state that l think the schools
should run all the time. The pupils
spend too little time in the schools.
They do not get fair return on the
capital invested. If they were open
the year round there should be vaca-
tions between the summer and winter
sessions
Regarded n. New Idea.
Did you ever hear of a school sys-
tenn being run on that plan?"
NO, l never did
ut Is a new idea to me-" said the
senator. rs it original with you?'
No; I would not want to claim full
responsibility for it. Mr.. Thurston.
said he would like to work toward
that end by increasing the work of
the vacation schools"
do the members of the board of
education draw any pay?" asked the
senator. suddenly changing his line of
questioning.
Does the president of the board?"
He does not"
"How much time does the president
of the board give to this work."
THAT varies. During the time 1 have
been in the city l have given prac-
tically all my time to it,
why do men seek these places?"
The abrupt question apparently star
tied the witness and he shook his head
and smiled.
II don't know. I'm sure 1 cannot say
why" he said. and the committee
Joined in the laugh that followed.
DR.. van schaick was closely ques-
toned by Senator Harrison as to the
pubic school curriculum in this city
and other large cities. The witness
admitted he knew very little about
the curriculum in other cities and not
much more about the curriculum in
this city.
Don't you think this is something
in which the board of education
should take an active INTEREST,"" he
was asked.
Yes, it certainly is. And we have
admitted that we ought to take it up
more fully, and not pay 50 much at
tention to the detail of other matters.
There are some members of the board
who know much more about such mat
ters than l do
who are they?"
"Mrs. Rhodes, Mrs. Gerry and DR..
Nei1l"
JanitOr Service Discussed.
The last question to be taken up by
Senator Harrison was the laritor
service in the schools. DR.. Van
Schaick admitted tnat the board had
encountered serious trouble all winter
on this point, but that under the pres
ent appropriation better service could
not be obtained There are 2s6 mem-
bers of the janitor force at present,
said the witness, including $40 jan
itorS. ninety-six assistant janitors
and laborers, and a number of cleo
tricians, engineers ard other skilled
helpers. The total allows less than
two men to each schoo. huildiug.
C'H|NFSF At WAR