Evening star., 1920-03-13
|BR|GHTWOOD'S0.K. K.
! ON THURSTONR RULE
Association Commends Work
of School Head; Opposes
Dr.. Van Schaick.

] The removal of Ernest l.. Thurston
I as superintendent of the public schools
of the District by the board of educa-
tion met with considerable opposition
last night at the meeting of the
Brightwood Citizens Association, held
in the Brightwood Public School, and
after long discussion of the local
school situation resolutions condemn
ing and demanding the resignation OIL
Rev. John Van Schaick. jr.. president
of the board of education. were
adopted.
Charles G. Lancaser introduced a
resolution vigorously protesting and
denouncing the secret and unlawful
methods of the board of education IN
attempting to remove Ernest l..
Thurston from the office of superin-
tendent of our public schools. because
we believe and so charge that no pub
lie demand on the part of the people
JuStifieS such unwarranted acton and
because we believe that Mr.. Thurston
has discharged the difficult duties of
his Office with ability and efficiency.
Demand for Resignation
The resolution further set forth
that this igh-handed proceeding
was planned and instigated by Rev.
John Van Schaick, jr. of Cob!eskill,
y. Y. the illegal and incompetent
president of the board of education;
and that we demand the resignation
of said Van Schaick from the school
board or his prompt removal by the
Supreme Court of the District, the au-
tbority that made the fatal mistake
iE appointing him.
Copies of the resolution were or
dered sent to Mr.. Thurston, DR.. Van
Schaick. the chief justice Of the Su-
preme Court of the District, the Spe-
rio % NIT
the school situation and the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations.
Jesse L. Ergood. chairman of the
school committee, presented a reSolu-
ton bearing on the school matter.
but withdrew it in favor of the Lam
caster resolution. Other speakers in
cluded William NICK. Clayton. r. M.
Cleary and President Charles w. Ray.
Mr.. Clayton predicted that out of
the present fight would come larger
things and that the time was not far
distant when the people would have
an opportunity to say who would be
District Commissioner and who would
appoint the school board.
Resolutions of regret at the death OF
Maj Raymond w. Pullman, Emory NJ.
Wilson and William c. Stump were
adopted and spread on the minutes of
the meeting. New members were
elected as follows: James F. Folk.
j. NJ " eaVeT, l.. "eb'ei' W ~. 49,,
fin. John A. Halloran. Charles P. Pol
lock, A. M. Belt, Theodore L. Otto,
S. A. Thompson, J. c. Beard. L. V.
Sharp, James E. Thomas L. A. Payne,
George H. Clarke and c. L. Osborn.
William NICK Clayton and Charles
M Ray were selected to represent
the association At the local suffrage
meeting to be held tonight at the Dis
trict building.
Promotion From Ranks
The association went on record as
favoring the promotion of a man from
the ranks to be chief of police. provided
a competent man could be found capable
of filling that position.
The dangerous condition Of a number
of street railway crossings on Georgia
avenue, in the Brightwood section, was
called to the attention of the assocla-
ton, and early remedy urged on the
part of the proper authorities.
Col. B. F. Bingham urged speedy ac-
ton on the appropriation now before
Congress of $500 for the construction
of a rostrum at Battle Ground cemetery.
A. H. Ulm presented resolution.
which was adopted, providing for the
utilizing of square 1896, bounded by JEFF
ferson and Kennedy streets and Illinois
and Georgia avenues, as public park.
The meeting concluded with the read
ing of a paper outlining the history OF
the Brightwood Public School, prepared
by John Claggett Proctor
The District Commissioners will be re-
auested to draft a regulation limiting
the weight of loaded trucks and vehicles
and the setting aside for their travel Of
streets which would be least injured or
affected by them The damage done to
certain streets was cited in the resolu-
ton.