The Washington herald., 1920-06-10
Sensational Meeting Fol-
/. lowed by Van Schaick
Quitting Committee.
TWO OPPOSE ACTION
Simon, Who Voted Against
Dismissal, to Help Find
New Head.

perintendent OF schools since the
fall of 1913. will not return 70 his
duties next year.
4 AS predicted exclusively in The
Washington Herald Monday. the
Board of Education took definite
and final action at its meeting in
the Franklin School yesterday
afternoon. reaffirming the previous
decision that Thurston must go, on
the alleged grounds that he was
not a fit educational leader to SUI
pervise District school activities.
The boards action was not sur
prising to Thurston. He sat at the
table in the board room. smiling,
while DR.. John Van Schaick, jr.,
president of the board, read to the
school body and the audience OF
citizens a statement branding the
school superintendent as an incom>
petent and a misfit and declaring
that the school system is not given
good leadership, and has suffered
and will continue to suffer from
that cause"
Another startling feature of the
meeting was the resignation OF Dr.
Van Schaick as chairman of the
committee to nominate a successor
to Thurston and the appointment of
DR.. Abram Simon in his place. DR..
Simon accepted the chairmanship.
The original committee was ap-
pointed at the board meeting on
February is. Its other members
are Mrs. Coralie +. Cook and DR..
Charles P. Neill.
Action Causes Surprise.
Van Schaick's, action was surpris-
ing in that DR.. Simon is sup
porter of Thurston.
DIR. Simon made the only attempt
at the meeting to secure the reten-
ton of Superintendent Thurston. He
moved, in view of the report OF the
Senate select committee, that Thurs
ton be retained. The notion. sup
ported by Fountain Peyton. lost
Van Schaick then read his state
ment, issued as a statement from
the board on motion Of DR.. Hayden
johnson. The statement was are
ply to the report of the Senate
school committee, taking into con-
sideration the suggestion OF the
committee as to the betterment Of
the schools and gradually working |
up to a vigorous condemnation of
Thurston.
In regard to the change of form
in selecting a board of education, !
it was stated:
THE board recognizes that what
ever difference of opinion there may
be with respect to the best manner
of selecting a board of education,
the board as constituted at present
is the only authority under the law
for the conduct of the schools of the
District. Its members have taken
a solemn oath faithfully to perform
the duties devolving upon them. and
while they are happy to receive sug-
sestions regarding the conduct Of
the schools, they cannot honorably
escape the responsibility placed
upon them by law"
Better schools Favored.
DIR. Van Schaick raised his eyes
from the paper he was reading, and
looked around.
The board most heartily agrees
with the suggestions of the special
committee of the Senate" read Van
Schaick, that the schools of the
District should be elevated to the
highest attainable standard, modern
and efficient in every department a
model for the nation. The board is
also pleased to note that the COM
mittee recommends higher salaries
for the teachers. II Congress will
act favorably on this recommenda-
ton it will be possible to improve
conditions greatly. The board feels
that the salaries paid teachers in
the Nations. Capital should be as
high as In any city OF the country.
The board would also welcome the
generous support OF Congress in
roodernizing all our school build
iass, Fairgrounds and equipment"
Van Schaick continued the. read
ing. advising not only a survey of
the schools to bring them up to the
highest standard of excellence, but
"the most capable educational lead
ership that can be secured"
THE superintendent of our great
school system should be an educa-
tional expert himself" read DIR. Van
Schaick, capable of discovering
faults and suggesting remedies, and
able to lead and inspire the teach
ers to render the fullest measure of
well-directed service. His influence
should be potent factor in stimu-
lating and directing all the activi-
ties Of the community properly con-
nected with the schools. In short,
ne should be recognized educa-
tioual- leader" j.
Says Leadership Lacks.
The speaker paused. Thurston
smiled The blow fell:
From an intimate knowledge of /,
that have existed for sew
eraI years, the board Is convinced
that our schools 60 nor have such
in the present superin-
and that the system has
suffered and would Continue TO suf-
fer from. thac cause. The law pre.
vides that the superintendent shall
be elected by the board fer q tern
n