Evening star., 1920-03-18

| ing that what the newspapers were
| saying about boIshevism was all un-
true?" asked Senator Harrison.
Mrs. Gerry said that she did not
! speech at the meeting. though she did
| know that Miss Wood attended it.
| Did you hear that Miss Wood said
she mad letter saying that condi-
| tons in Russia were finec' demanded
Senator Harrison.
Mrs. Gerry replied that this had been
Drought to the attention of the board
| as coming from a pupil
bid Miss Wood support bolshe-
vic principles?"
4 think her IDEA was similar to
| that of others. that any one could
| have subscribed to the underlying
| principles Of bolshevism in so far
as taey were in favor OF granting a
| voice IN government to 4 whole peo-
PIE have sympathy with rrinci-
PIES or movement TO better all the
! peopie. but | never was in sympathy
| with hoishev.sm. ! am convinced tha,
! MISS WOOD is firm believer in the
| pTir ciples of democracy"
-Hnator HARRISON suggested that
some people do not believe that any
one should have anything 20 do with
! holsievism.
| Mrs. Gerry said that it would he
mosr Unfortunate if the teachers were
askc" to stol TIE action of their
. fiflhh on important subjects that come
up. There is nothing so unfortunate
as q closed mind" said Mrs. Gerry
J Miss Wood had right to find our
J what was going on in Russia and to
! exercise her laind"
in reply to another question. Mrs.
t Gerry said tnat any one who believes
i IA "o.shevism as it has developed
| t.r. ruhiic schools
Was a motion made to appeal from
the decision of the court which sus-
tanned Miss Wood" asked Senator
Harrison.
! yes. j. Fl. Larner made such a
motion answered Mrs. Gerry.
! what was the vote?"
Il d" not know. But / voted not
to appeal"
! How did Or. Van Schaick vote?"
! He voted not to appeal"
There is Il point in connection with
that case that l would like to clear
up now said the witness at this
point. Although l was not in sym
! pathy with the action which had been
taken against Miss Wood, neverthe-
less when the board was attacked by
Miss Woods friends and when enor-
nous pressure was brought to bear
TO get the board to rescind it's action
Feit that the board could not fol-
| low such course and exist. There
fore | voted against all my feelings
and made motion not to rescind and
suffered under great public disap-
proVal' 'm consequence"
Mrs. Gerry Further Questfoned.
Mrs Gerry was questioned further
bJ senator Dillingham; on her stti-
| tude toward bolshevism and teachers
who might lean toward that doctrine.
NO one who feels that bolsnevism
| is superior to the democratic system
| of government should be allowed to
| teach in our schools" said the board
| member. IF l had thought Miss
Wood belonged in that class would
have voted for her dismissal. No
| teacher should be allowed to advo-
; cate anything contrary to our present
/ system of government. and had Miss
| Wood done anything to create further
dissension l would have felt she
should have been dismissed
| you first met with the board for
the purpose Of electing a president
taking up another line of inquiry.
Yes, in May Of that year." said
You voted then for DR.. Van
Schaick?'
Yes"
I You have voted for him at every
| subsequent election%'
"Yes. 1 believe l have. And on oc-
casions I have nominated him"
What do you regard as the chief
u
II agree with what other members
have said here on that question, and.
| though I cannot recall their exact
! words. / should say that one purpose
was to obtain the best possible super
! intendent for the school system The
| board should act as an Interpreter be-
J tween the superintendent and the
! public 1t should be a sort of clearing
| house and out of its discussions
! should come the best ideas of school
! management and administration"
| What would you say as to the
superintendent duties?"
| "Al ideas should originate from
| him. He should be the administrator
of the system and it's chief authority.
| If he is a strong man the board Of
| education would be largely a possible
check on him, such as is needed in all
| combined legislature and court"
What il the superintendent Is
weak executive?"
With 4 weak superintendent, II
| it becomes evident that he is not ad-
ministering the affairs of the school
system properly. the board of educa-
tion is responsible and it is it's duty,
absolutely unacceptable, to prevent
wrong action so far as possible"
Mrs. Gerry's Objections.
Taking up her objections to Mr..
Thurston, Mrs. Gerry said she had
been high school teacher and was
particularly we'll acquainted with con-
| ditions in those schools. She said that
many complaints of conditions in the
| high schools came to her after her
| appointment to the board. and that
she brought them up at informal con-
! ferences Of the board, at which Mr..
Thurston always was present.
The high schools were falling
apart" said Mrs. Gerry. There was
no unity. The curriculum differed,
/ the hours differed. and the connection
| between the schools was so loose that
| the pupils began to test out the sew
! eral institutions, trying first one and
then another. Mr.. Learned came on
the board about that time. and he be-
| came interested in the high schools
and made many suggestions. When
/ these things were brought up Mr.
| Thurston would say, I have been on
the point of investigating that or
That thing was just going to be
DONE"
Mrs. Gerry introduced in the record
a long list Of changes which she said
the board had suggested to Mr. Thurs
ton. though the printed list bore the
Inscription that they were SUGGESTIONS
made by Supt. Thurston.
CHOICE OF NEW SCHOOL
HEAD WAITS ON SENATE