Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-10
,SUPT. THURST0N
| ENDS TESTIMONY
IN SCHOOL INQUIRY
Questions on Disputed Points
Are Propounded at Sugges-
tion of Dr.. Van Schaick.

Superintendent Ernest L. Thurston to-
day finished his testimony before the
Senate committee investigating the
schools of the District of Columbia by
replying to several pages of questions
submitted to the committee by Dr. John
Van Schaick. jr., president Of the school
board. designed to clear UP disputed
points in previous testimnoy.
The hearing will be resumed at 1880
o'clock next Tuesday morning. when
Roscoe c. Bruce. assistant superintend-
ent in charge of coIored schools. and a
central figure in some Of the contro-
versies aired before the committee, will
be heard.
A charge that members Of the
board of education, at a conference
from which he was excluded, had at
tempted to fix the blame upon him for
the trouble In the schools over Mr.
Bruce. was made by Supt. Thurston,
who said he believed he was excluded
from the meeting at which the Bruce
case was considered because Of this
desire. He said that John B. Larner,
a member of the board. had vigorously
opposed any such action in the con-
ference. as he had been told later,
and when the report finally was made
on the Bruce case the blame was not
laid upon the superintendent
The superintendent was closely
question as to where he found q let
ter written by DR.. Van Schaick to
DR.. Learned which he put into the
record. and as to the right he had
to see that letter. Mr. Thurston re-
piled that he had obtained the letter
from the official files of the board of
education, and that he believed he had
a right to use it.
Alleged Criticism OF Congress.
Mr.. Thurston was asked about the
charge made on the floor Of the House
several days ago that a teacher in
Central High School has spoken dis
praragingly of members Of Congress to
her classes. and replied that an in
vestigation was now being made Of
the case and report would be COM
pleted early next week.
The principal of the school got in
touch with the member and learned
the name OF the teacher involved" :"
said Mr.. Thurston. He then went
with her to see the representative and
they talked 1t over.
Following that he took up the mat
ter with two full classes of this teach
er getting statements Of their feeling
of the attitude of the teacher and
what they have obtained from her in
the way Of Americanism. etc
These statements were brought to
me. and they have been analysed. l
have a summary of them here, but as
the Investigation is not concluded. 1
would rather not have 1t put in the
record at this time, though the COM
mittee might look over the summary,
1t Is not as bad as has been Indicated :"
Never mind" said Senator Harrt-
son. you may put the whole thing in
the record next week."
Question Of Encroachment.
Mr.. Thurston was questioned by
Senator Harrison regarding an al
legged encroachment of the board of
education, referred to yesterday by
Mr.. Thurston, involving the institu-
tion of a new debating system in the
schools. Mr.. Thurston has insisted
that he was ignored in this matter by
the board.
The superintendent said that he had
no objection to any person present.
ing suggestions for the benefit Of
the schools, either to the superinten-
dent or to the board. A series OF
questions from Senator Harrison drew
an admission that the matter in ques-
ton probably was good thing for
the schools.
"As a matter Of fact the board of
education really did not encroach on
you in this case. did it?" asked Sena-
tor Harrison.
"It was n very trivial matter" re-
piled Mr.. Thurston. Il merely men
toned it yesterday as an instance of
encroachment on the part Of the
board. Very clearly there was time
to have taken up the matter with me
before having the board act on It,"
IT'S a pretty good plan. is 1t not"
asked Senator Harrison: ut is better
than some that DR.. Van Schaick has
suggested?"
'.As I said the other day. I some
times agreed with DR.. Van Schaick,"
replied the witness.
Mr.. Thurston told tho committee
that where a general course Of study
was to be undertaken in the schools
1t should. of course, have the ap-
proval first OF the board, but that the
details should be worked out by the
superintendent.
Senator Harrison asked the witness
If he recalled q Mrs. Tracy and
whether she was sent to him by DIR.
Van Schaick in regard to the matter
in question. The witness replied that
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