Evening star., 1920-03-26
THURST0N AYERS
BOARD MEMBERS
ASK PROMOTIONS
Continued from First Page.)

be better able to control. I looked
| up her official record and found that
year after year she was rated very
good. The reasons given for her
| transfer were not shown in the official
records"
Mr.. Thurston said he countermand-
| ed the transfer and added that he
| thought that Mr.. Bruce had agreed
with him when he knew all the facts
| in the case. Mr.. Thurston said that
cases, where the assistant superin-
! tendent had been overridden by him
were few.
Instance Of Disagreement.
Taking up the case of the selection
Of a director Of music in the colored
! schools. some years ago. Mr.. Thurston
| told how he had recommended Miss
Josephine Wormley, although the ap-
potntment was opposed by the assist
ant superintendent.
Il took 1t on my recommendation
to the board and 1t was finally ap-
proved" said Mr.. Thurston. Later
the case was taken to the auditor of
the District to see If I was legally
correct. The question was whether
l had right to make the nomination
to the board. although not o. KID by
the assistant superintendent. I argued
that T had this right because the law
requires the assistant superintendent's g
approval only in cases of promotion
from one grade to another. I did not
such case. The auditor wrote an
opinion saying that the law was
vague and conflicting. At the end he
said he saw no reason why could
not make the appointment"
Mr.. Thurston said that he had felt
that Miss Wormley was best quail
fed for the position of any of the To-
cal applicants and as well qualified as
an applicant from Louisville. He said
| he thought 1t was better to appoint
from the ranks of the teachers in
Washington. The matter. he said,
| was discussed number Of times in
| the board
What did the board have to do
with it before you made a recommen-
| dation?" asked Senator Harrison.
The witness replied that it was
usual for such matters to come up
| in discussions before the board.
Held Reason for Friction.
isn't that one reason for the fric-
ton between the board and the super
| lintendent?" asked Senator Harrison.
The witness replied he thought 1t
was.
| limited to legislative action and not
interfere with administrative mat
ters" suggested Senator Walsh.
"Who brought the matter up in the
board?" asked Senator Capper.
Members of the board"
| Did they aSktyou about it because
you had not acted in the case?" asked
Senator Harrison.
They asked me about the qualifica-
| tions of various applicants" replied
the superintendent. "The board final
! ly adopted my recommendation"
Has it come to be common thing
| for the board to interfere in the selec-
! tion of teachers for promotion" asked
Senator Capper.
The witness replied that most of the
cases were routine and disposed OF
without much discussion.
sEmbarrassed by Board"
Have there been many cases where
you have been embarr ssed by the
| board?"
! "A number" replied the witness He
said that these cases involved princi-
palships. Pressed by Senator Capper
Mr.. Thurston mentioned only two
cases. He added, however, that he
had been frequently approached by
individual members of the board in
| regard to promotions and appoint.
ments.
Have you been putting up to the
board many cases and not deciding
| them yourself?'
but that of late there have been many
conferences with the board, and h,
mentioned the case of the appoint.
ment of a director of kindergarten
| work. He said that he had put this
up to the board for consideration
| since he thought that a question OF
| policy was involved. In 1.-The end. he
| self
Senator Capper asked If Mr. Thurs
| ton thought 1t was wise for the su
perintendent to take the time to lool
4 f~nA
| Miss Nugent. who objected to being
| transferred from the Lincoln School
when a teacher appeals to me-
said Mr.. Thruston, II think that
should clean up the case"
Did Not Consider Future.
Senator Harrison asked:
Were these frequent conferences
with the board in recent months. due
to your desire to get into the good
| Que to come up for reelection this
| year,"
| Il never gave 1t thought" said
Mr.. Thruston. Il have not weigh ed
my reelection. in any action that
! have taken this year."
Senator Capper asked how many
teachers there are in the schools here
The witness replied that there were
2.103 officers and teachers, and that
| there were thousands of cases OF
transfers and promotions coming uT
each year.
I'm how many casessdid the board
| interfere with you in the last year,
asked Senator Capper.
VERY few" replied Mr.. Thurston
He added, however. that a good deal
of pressure had been exerted upor
him in the past by some members of
the board where appointments and
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