Evening star., 1920-06-18
RETAIN THURSTON
ASSCH0OL LEADER,
ROTARY CLUBPLEA
Resolution Is Adopted at Spe-
cial Meeting of Or
ganization.

The Washington Rotary Club at a
special meeting at the Willard Hotel
today went on record as favoring the
retention OF Ernest l.. Thurston as
superintendent of schools
The clubs action today was the Sc
Quel to events which transpired at a
meeting last Friday. when a resolu-
ton condemnatory Of DR. Van Schaick
and the board of education was passed
by the club. but was later withdrawn.
A committee was appointed TO advise
action by the club. and its report in
the form OF resolution. was adopted
by the club today.
The letter addressed to Charles j
ONeill. president of the Rotary club
fs In the form of a report 1t follows
In response to your request Of
June II, the committee appointed by
you to consider the resolution intro
duced at the meeting of the Washing
ton Rotary Club June II convened at
the club headquarters today CJune
l4) at 4 O'Clock. and after a thorough
discussion of all phases of the reso-
luton we respectfully invite the at
tention of the board of directors to
the following facts:
Il. We know of no more important
matter in the minds of the local pub
lie than the proper rearing and the
trict of Columbia
-. The educational system of the
District of Columbia, under the SUPER
vision or Mr. Ernest l.. Thurston has
met with widespread and almost uni
versal approval of our people. Fur
thermore, his work has been COM
mended by the report of the Senate
committee after full investigation
of the local school situation
s3 In vjaw pf tho p,,b1io
and the Senate's recommendation we
feel that at this time it will be detri-
mental to the efficiency of the present
school system to make any change in
the superintendency.
-. We desire individually and col
lectlvely to express our thorough con-
fidence in Mr. Ernest L. Thurston, both
as man and as an educator
"5. The committee therefore consid-
ers ii inexpedient at this time for the
Rotary Club to personally interview the
board Of education in relation to the
aforesaid matters"
The letter is signed by D. j. Gala
han OF the committee appointed to ad-
wise action by the Rotary Club Other
members are w. K. Cooper. f. H.
Droop, W. ". Everett, F. S. Lincoln. S.
j. Prescott. j. Sharp, E. l.. Stock and
John Poole.
Parents League Fight Begins.
The campaign of the Parents League
to oust DR.. John Van Schaick, jr., as a
member of the Board of Education was
carried to the District Supreme Court
today. by officers Of the organization.
petition was sent to the Supreme
Court justices. stating that the school
board is illegally constituted in that its
president. DR.. Van Schaick. is not eligi-
BILE to membership. because he had not
been a bona flde resident of the District
for five years prior to his appointment.
The petition cited the case of w. l..
Houston. who was appointed a member
Of the board in 1912. and it was later
learned that he was a registered voter
in Illinois. When this .act was brought
to the attention of the Supreme Court
justices, it was pointed out in the petit
ton. he resigned upon request Atten-
ton was also called in the petition to
the testimony of DR.. Van Schaick be-
fore the Senate District committee on
January 26, in which he stated that he
voted in CobIeskill ~ Y, in 1916. and
accepted a position on the school board
the same year. Under the law, the
petition brought out. member of the
school board is required to have been a
bona fide resident of the District five
years prior to appointment.