Evening star., 1920-04-05
MR.. GALL|HER PUT
POINTED QUESTION
TO DR.. VAN SCHA|CK
Interview Relating to Thur
ston Caused Threat, Com
/. mittee Is Told.

very heated interview between
William r. Galliher. former member of
the school board and DIR. John Van
SChaick. president of the board, over
the latter's attitude toward Superin-
tendent of Schools Thurston. was de-
scr;bed in detail today by Mr.. Galliher.
who appeared before the Senate COM
mittee Investigating the District of
Columbia schools.
From the beginning of DR. Van
Schaicks appearance on the board his
attitude toward the superintendent was
one of indifference. said the witness.
who sought an interview with the presi-
dent of the board and asked him ''if he
came on the board with an open mind
Or to do the bidding of some one else"
To this. Mr.. Galliher said, DR.. Van
SchaicE replied by saying his mind was
open, but threatened to report the criti-
Cism to the members of the District
Supreme Court The matter was
dropped. Mr. Galliher said. after he had
offered to repeat all of his statements
10 Dr. Van Schaick's stenographer and
give copies to the local newspapers.
About a month later DIR. Van
Schaick. of his own accord. came to
me and said that with reference to
reporting our interview to the judges
of the Supreme Court. he had decided
not to do it, said Mr.. Galliher. Il
told him it was a matter of indiffer-
ence to me-"
COmmends Superintendent.
Mr.. Galliher said he believed Mr..
ThurSton was able superintendent
and should be continued in that posi-
tion. He said that he thought the
col
much management" and that the
present board of education had in
terfered with the superintendent's
work.
Henry P. Blair. former president of
the board of education, was the first
witness heard today. He told the
committee that in his opinion Supt.
Thurston was careful and conscien-
tiOus and up-to-date superintendent
and that he had grown and developed
in that office.
He said that~it had been Mr.. Thurs
toms practice to examine with care
all propositions with relation to the
schools and that he had not accepted
them merely because some per son
suggested that they would be good
for the schools. Mr.. Thurston, he said,
was not given to fads.
Mr.. Blair testified that he believed
he had not been reappointed menu
ber of the board because he had been
OppOSSu u ndVluS the appointment OIL
members of the school board placed
again in the hands of the District
Commissioners. He added that he did
not believe the appointment of a
school board was a proper judicial
function and that 1t should not be left
10 the District Supreme Court.
Mr.. Blair said that the people of
the District should elect a board of
education.
Blair Praises Thurston.
Henry P. Blair. a member of the
board of education for six years. and
president from 1912 to 1916, was the
first witness today. He told the COM
mittee that when he went. on the
board in 1911 he thought it was fair
criticisne of the school system to say
that the business management need
ed many reforms. DIR. Davidson. then
superintendent. instituted these re-
forms. with the advice and consent
of the board. which, Mr.. Blair said.
were far-reaching. At the time that
he left the board Mr.. Blair said that
it seemed to him that the board and
Mr.. Thurston, who had become su-
perintendent, were dealing well with
the problems relating to the schools.
Mr. Blair said that it had seemed
to him that Mr.. Thurston was the
best man available for superintend-
ent when he was appointed. He de-
ecribed Mr.. Thurston as careful. con-
scientious and up-to-date in matters
relating to education
He examined with care PROPOSE
fions submitted for Introduction in
the schools" said Mr.. Blair, rather
than accepting them readily because
somebody suggested they might be
good things for the schools. He had
cerned. When I ceased connection
with the board I felt that Mr.. Thurs
ION had made a good start. and had
reason 10 feel he was growing and
developing splendidly. He required
1he cooperation of the board given in
friendly. not hostile. spirit
Was there any encroachment by
the board on the superintendents
field while YOU were member of the
board" asked Senator. Harrison.
The witness said that he should not
regard as encroa oachments the sugges-
fions which were made by the board
10 the superintendent during the
Years of his service.
The superintendent and the board
Got along harmOniouSly?
"As general proposition. yes"
Was there any set of members of
fhe board. any clique: who tried to
run things to the exclusion of other
nlembers of the board:'
The witness said that such a Sug-
Eestion could not be justly made.
Did the members of the board
have any informal meetings of board
members at their residences, from
&ere excluded. to go over poiicies?
Says Conferences Were Open.
Mr. Blair said that the only confer
euces held were those at the Franklin
School building and were open to
every member of the board. except an
Informal conference held early during
bis service. when Mr.. Stuart was 60
ing to resign as superintendent.
We're you expecting reappOintment
when your term of Office expired ~
asked Senator Harrison.
II was much surprised when / was
NOT reappointed." admitted Mr.. Blair.
Who was appointed to succeed
Eou?'
Or Van Schaick"
senator Harrison asked Mr.. Blair
tyhat he thought of Assistant Supt.
si.uce of the colored schools.
Has High Opinion of Bruce.
The witness replied that he consid-
sated men of his race, or any race he
capacity and ability to make an ex-
Gellent school officer. Nh Blair said
HAT there had been constant friction
around Bruce. He added that he had
Sever made any final determination
scgarding Mr.. Bruce because he
wanted To be able to decide with an
open mind. il the charges against
Truce ever took definite head. He
sand that he found Bruce apparently
anxious 10 do the best for the schools
Was there any friction between