The Washington herald., 1920-06-22

arm of the government by not as
suming the will of Congress before
that will is expressed.
Whenever II is expressed the
board will cheerfully obey, recogniz-
ing it as the voice of the people of
the United States, who own this
Capital city.
In your address you appealed to
us ito heed the wishes of the citi-
zens of this district"
This board respects true public
sentiment.
But it reminds you that without
suffrage. with no orderly. regular,
I trustworthy method OF expression,
with no machinery for laying the
facts in any controversy before the
people, the board and the public gen.
orally must realize that the most
vocal is not always the most genuine
public sentiment
Some good citizens undoubtedly
have been misled by charges made
against board members in the most
reckless-way which are utterly with
out foundation in fact.
Sentiment Divided.
There is a great body of public
sentiment reaching the Board of Ed
ucation-indorsing its action. Some
of il is from people personally
friendly to Mr.. Thurston, who feel
now that his usefulness here is at
an end.
Hundreds of other teachers ana
citizens are convinced that the board
has acted wisely from the beginning.
The board knows that the only
way to get the respect and good
will of citizens and retain il for all
the future is to follow the best light
which IL has, and to stand firm
against insubordination within the
school system and intimidation from
without.
To sum it all up. the Board Of Ed
ucation cannot defer the election of
a superintendent Of schools for the
following reasons:
1. No legislation is possible until
the winter of 1921.
2. Legislation is not certain at
that time.
3. In the meantime, the board is
responsible under the law for the
schools.
4. Superintendent Thurston goes
out of once June 80, by expiration
of his term. To retain his services
temporarily as suggested by the
committee eswould mean re-electing
him for term of three years. which
this board believes to be not for the
best interests of the schools.
5. The board has no power to
elect for a shorter term. II has no
confidence in his resigning before
the expiration of his term. To dis
miss him-after election as you sug-
gested would mean turmoil and
perhaps legal proceedings.
The board will not reconsider its
action in notifying Mr.. Thurston
that he will not be reelected, be-
cause the action represented the
mature deliberation of an over
whelming majority of the board.
The conduct of Mr.. Thurston In
appealing to Congress and the
citizens associations represents a
kind of insubordination which
would mean chaos in the school
system If his example should be
followed.
No future board would dare re-
move anybody from ofice.
Whether board should be
elected or appointed. or whether
there should be any board. II Is not
for US to say.
We know that the legal govern
ment must be supported or the al
tentative is Bolshevism.
I call your attention to the fol-
lowing words of an editorial In
The Washington Herald of June II:
(.Out-Heroding Herod.,)
"A time to halt this educational
carnage has come. This Board or
Education. exercising it's unques-
toned legal power, having voted
against retention of the present
is in duty bound to
NIL his place Immediately. Their
choice must be man with clear
vision, hrm will and a disposition
to assert his rights knowing his
peculiar responsibilities. He must
be informed as to precisely what he
is coming to do and what extra
friction he must expect until the
scars OF the present combat are
healed.
when he comes he should a,
once find rallying around him citi-
Gems and parents who believe the
schools exist for the children and
who loathe the motives and meth
DDS that have been hidden under
meath the surface of this all too
fight"
Again, desire to thank you In
the name of the board for the in
terest you have taken and the
presentation you have
made.
Very sincerely yours,
JOHN VAN -SCHAICK, JR.,