The Washington times., 1920-03-12
SCHOOL HEAD
OK SDANC|NG
Van Setback Tells Senate Com
mittee He Approves Such
Use OF Buildings.

Dancing in the public schools-but
not the bunny hug" or the "shim-
my" but the formal dances-wss de-
Tended by President Van Setback OF
the Board OF Education before the
Senate investigating committee to-
day.
"I believe the schools should be
used for dances" said Van Schsick.
Senator Dillingham; stated that he
had heard that as result OF the
night dances the janitor service In
the schools had become scandal,
and that the contents OF the desks OF
pupils had been rihed.
yet there was one case brought
to my attention where two whiskey
bottles were found after a dance"
said Van Schaick.
Defends Centers.
The board president defended the
work of the community centers. say
ing that Miss Margaret Wilson,
daughter OF the President, had been
instrumental in establishing them.
He touched at length the develop
ment OF the community centers since
the first legislation providing for
them was passed in 1918.
that he made an effort to get Mrs
Rhodes off the school board because
her work as director of Fairgrounds
might embarass the Board Of Educa-
tion in it's relation to the Commits
sioners.
Senator Harrison produced a letter
written by Van Schaick to Friend
S." who Senator Harrison tried
to Identify as Justice Siddons. Van
Schaick refused to admit that the
letter was written OF Siddons, al
though he admitted that 1t might be,
The letter urged the retirement o.
Mrs Rhodes from the Board OF Edu-
cation because this action "wCuld
straighten out the relation between
the Board and the Commissioners.
Any action the Board takes now in
cooperation with the Commissioners
is Discounted by her presence con
tinued the letter
The letter also stated that Mrs.
Rhodes lacked a sense Of proportion
and that she showed such venom and
bitterness toward Superintendent
Thurston as to embarrass the Board.
Not Real Attitude.
81 wish to make it clear that this
letter does not represent my real at
titude toward Mrs. Rhodes" said Van
Setback. "A letter is thing of an
hour, creature of mood. There
have been moments when | have been
greatly irritated and no prepared to
express a balanced Judgment about
anyone or anything"
The Mones case came into the hear
ing today.
Senator Harrison reading into the
record letters OF introduction when
Van Schaick had given Mones to
teachers in the schools.
"Mones was Dutch scientist who
came to me with letter from the
Dutch legation" said Van Schaick.
"He said he was an anthropologist,
who wanted to study American people
and children in the schools. He bored
me, and | did not give any real
thought to the propriety OF the letter
which | gave him, which was in Octo-
Der, 1916.
I'm May. 1917. he came to me for
another letter, saying that he had
been accused as being a German spy.
and that his work had been hampered
thereby He gave me a letter from
the minister Of The Netherlands ex-
GENERATING him from that charge. and
thereupon gave him a second letter
of introduction.
ct believe I consulted Assistant SUI
perintendent Bruce about the matter,
but did not go to Thurston.
FniIs to Recall.
Senator Harrison inquired IL the
SUPERINTENDENT of schools should not
have absolute authority over such
matters as were involved in the case.
Van Schaick replied that the col
ored superintendent was vested win
complete authority over the colored
schools under the law. and that there
fore he went to Bruce on the matter.
He could not recall any details or the
conversation, however.
Senator Harrison asked Van Schaick
large number Of questions about the
Monday Evening Club.
some of the best fellows I know,
not necessarily leading citizens or
men of influence, are in the club"
said Van Schaick. He spoke of his
acquaintance with oliver 7. Newman,
Justice Siddons, Merrill Gates George
F. Wilson and Charles l.. Weller.
Confesscs Indlscrction.
He confessed that he had committed
an indiscretion in writing q letter to
DR.. Learned in which he referred to
chestnuts as Colored teachers as a
Joke" and stated that montgomery
is old and past usefulness" and that
nobody has ever taken Starr Parsons
seriously"
He also denied that he had any
prejudice against tho colored race,
despite the fact that one letter
he referred to the colored Parents
League as "one-third child. one-third
savage, and one-third shell game"