Evening star., 1920-04-05

Continued from First Page.)
appointed he was not disappointed
but that he was surprised.
Were other members of the board
surprised?" asked Senator Harrison.
Yes il was generally understood
that I would be reappointed."
why were you not reappointed?
The witness said that the only in
formation he had in regard to tbe
matter was statement made in the
newspapers. to the effect that the
Judges had determined that diff
ferent policy should be pursued with
regard to the schools. He said the
article appeared in The Star. and that
it also gave the impression that ths
be called on to explain their appoint
ments. He said that he had never
made any further inquiry.
Mentions Another Phase.
He said that, in his opinion, the
active agitation which began in 1915
by the District Commissioners to have
the appointment of the school board
changed from the District Supreme
Court back to the Commissioners had
sonnet thing to do with the &natter. He
said that the community was not in
favor of this change. but that the
agitation was continued nevertheless.
L
mmissioners wanted this authority.
WHO were members of the board
of Commissioners when you went out
of Office
The witness said that he thought
Mai Newman and Mr.. BrOWnioW were
the Commissioners. the latter having
been appointed as successor to
Judge Siddons. He said that Judge
Siddons had been in favor while he
was Commissioner of having the
school board appointed by the Com
missioners. He said he had no
knowledge of how Judge Siddons felt
in regard TO this matter since he be-
came judge.
You think the stand you took in
opposition to this change in appoint
ing power was the reason you were
not reappointed"
II think so now" replied Mr.. Blair,
"particularly in view of what has been
brought out at this hearih%
Not Judges Function, He Relieves.
WHO do you think should appoint
the school board now?'
Mr. Blair said that he had never
considered the appointment of the
school board by the judges proper
judicial function, but that on account
of the personnel of the Board of Com
missioners had been against the change
of The appointing power back 10 the
Commissioners. He said that undoubt-
edly the Commissioners would be in a
better position to know who should be
appointed on the school board.
Il have been in favor of suffrage in
the District of Columbia ever since
was old enough to vote" said Mr..
Blair THE people of the District
should elect a school board. that's
where the appointing power belongs
Would you have the patrons of the
the school board?''
Wants Voters to Elect Board.
The witness said he thought he
would have the qualified voters Sc
lect the school board; that it would
be an excellent thing for the people
of the District to begin to learn
something about voting and elec-
tions, and that they could quickly
learn in the election of the board of
education.
Mr Blair said that he thought that
Mr. Thurston has steadily grown and
developed while superintendent. He
pointed out that during the unusual
war conditions, when many teachers
were leaving to go into the govern
ment service. and when salaries We're
low. none of the schools was closed
except when the influenza epidemic
and the coal strike made it necessary
to close.
In reply to questions as to the
teachers union. Mr.. Blair SAID that
in the last year OF mis- service the
high school union was getting under
wav He said that he thought school
teachers should have the power to
form unions and affiliate as they de-
sired. but that when it comes TO the
active management or the schoois'
Including the appointment or teach-
ers and promotions, they should have
no part. .,o. b,a
been the attitude of Mr.. Davidson
toward the appointment of Mr.. Thurs
ton as superintendent.
Gives Mr.. Davidson's View.
"J think Mr. Davidson said he
tbourht Mr.. Thurston was the best
nan in the system for the place, re-
piled Mr.. Blair .;,,;,
communities centers had begun Whlie
be was on the board, that professor
named Ward had come here from the
University of Wisconsin. working as d
dollar-a-year man with the bureau OF
education, and had urged the adoption
of the community center plan. MT
Blair said he had not been opposed 10
the establishment of community cen
ters in the schools, although he felt
| that where they have not been actively
fostered by the government they nave
not developed. He said the school
/ plant here is worth millions of dollars;
| that for three months it is idle, as 1t Is
| for two days in each week. He added
| that there had been no large demand
| for the establishment of center work
| in the schools, except in the case of the
| Park View School.
Mr.. Blair said the school system OF
Washington was difficult to handle
! first, because 1t is a dual system, and
second because of the fact that any
citizen who is aggrieved at what hap,
pens in the schools usually knows
some senator or representative with
whom he lodges a complaint. He said
| 1t would be better to let the schools
handle the questions.