The Washington herald., 1920-04-01
new WITNESS
RAPS THURSTON.
DR.. Learned Denies Three
Statements Made by
Superintendent.
UPHOLDS MISS WOOD
Considers Action of Board
In Suspending Teacher
Too Severe.
UPHOLDS MISS WOOD

NFlat denlal OF three statements
made by Ernest L. Thurston, SUI
perintendent of schools. before the
Senate school inquiry committee,
was made yesterday afternoon by
DR.. Henry b. Learned. member Of
the school board.
The afternoon hearing was held
in order to finish with DIR. Learned,
so that he may return 20 California
tonight.
The first statement to which DR..
Learned took exception was that
he had come on the board mot with
an open mind"
so far as 1 know" said DR..
Learned, there is nothing but in
accuracy in that statement. 1 went
on the board with an absolutely
unpre JUDGED mind. l was a stran-
ger TO Thurston. and for me, a
stranger, to buck into contro-
versy of which l had no knowledge
would make me ashamed OF the
law court which appointed ME. l
will never stand for suSh state
ment."
His next objection was to the
statement of ThurstoR that Learned
had informed him he could not be
present at the Bruce Investigation.
II never So informed him." said
the witness. 81 intimated to him
that i did not think 1t would be
wise for him to be present. He
said: Very well, 1 want to take
nI wa NJ
to get away anyway"
The third exception was to
Thurston's statement that the wit
ness had informed him that he (Dr.
Learned) expected to show that the
periors.
II never for a moment reached
any conclusion about superiors, nor
did / make up my mind about the
Bruce case for many months after
wards"
Fountain Peyton. colored member
of the school board and the prin-
cipal opponent of President Van
Schaick, will take the stand at 10
o'clock this morning.
Hearing on Miss Wood.
Taking up the Wood case. Sem
ator Harrison asked the witness If
he was on the committee which
Investigated Miss Wood.
Yes. ! made the suggestion for
the appointment of IT," he said.
AT the end of the investigation
/ felt Miss Wood had made an ex-
cellent appearance and a fair state
ment, but 1 did take occasion to say
, she mad been indiscreet."
Asked If the committee had de-
termined whether Miss Wood be-
lieved in the principles of Bolshe
vism, DIR. Learned replied that few
people. himself included. had a def
mite idea of what Bolshevism was,
especially at that time.
DR.. Learned said he had consid-
cred the action of the board in sus-
pending Miss Wood to be too Sc
we're. and that he had not voted
at all on the question. although the
records showed a unanimous vote.
BIames Influence of Rumor.
In reply to questions. witness said
he thought the board was influenced
as much by rumors on the outside
as by his report on the interview
with Miss Wood.
Wood wronged the board when her
case was appealed to the court, and
that he then voted against rescind-
Ing the previous action of the board,
to which he was opposed.
Does the action of the unions in
this case" asked Senator Dilling-
ham, indicate what we can expect
the action of the school unions to be
In the future?"
DR.. Learned said he hoped not ;
that he had no objections to teach
ers organizing, but he hat such lit
tie knowledge on the subject of
unionism that he was in a doubtful
mood.
He said he thought the Wood
case would prove a lesson to the
unions. despite the fact that they
had won their case. because of the
inevitable reaction in the minds Of
Intelligent teachers against the
tactics adopted.
DIR. Learned praised Miss Wood
highly at this point, saying she
really adorns the profession Of
teaching to which l belong"
DR.. Learned made several recon-
mendations for the betterment of
the District school system, the first
of which was the necessity for hav-
ing a strong head, "a man who un-
derstands administration; man
who understands education and es-
pecially the higher reaches of edu-
cation; and the capacity for look
ing at problems in a large, manly,
liberal way"