The Washington times., 1920-03-04
SCHOOL BOARD
AWAITS PROBE
Answer to Thurston's Charges
to Be Given At Capitol
Quiz.

The Board OF EDUCATION WIN
answer the charges of. Ernest L.
ThuTston. Superintendent of Schools
when It's members appear before the
Senate investigating committee next
week, il was indicated by state
ment issued today by John van
Schaick. board president.
II do not propose to discuss any
school matter In advance OF the sen
ate hearing said Van Schsick' We
will have plenty of chance then' ana
IL viii all be made public"
Briefly, this Is what Superintend-
ent Thurston charged In hts address
yesterday:
That members of the board. among
them John Van SchAick, president, at
tempted, sometimes being successful.
to usurp his legal powers as super
iutendent.
That board members tried to domi-
nate the administrative field.
That board members continually
| made Investigations which might be
' clsssed as spying"
1 That secret conferences were the
main reasons for the present unset
tiled conditions in the schools.
That one member Of the board
sought to be appointed to high po-
sition in the schools.
That not even for the sake of the
schools would certain board members
cooperate In his work.
That ne was, contrary to law, re-
fused admittance to some conferences
OF the board.
Public Hoodwinked.
That. contrary to law, the Bruce
case was taken out OF his hands.
That board members attempted
L., Ho t1y
tain changes and appointments made.
That the board did not want the
public TO know the true conditions
In the schools.
That all proceedings in private
sessions were absolutely secret.
That members of the board tried to
assume his duties by attempting to
| do the administrative work Of the
schools.
That the board objected to the SUI
perintendent appearing before civic
bodies.
That criticisms OF the superintend-
ent were personal in tone, and always
made In secret sessions, with or with
out the superintendent present
That the board refused to give him
his full power as the law provides.
Full responsibility for the present
unsettled conditions in the schools
was laid upon the board by Superin-
{ tendent Thurston. Private confer
ences. groups Of board members or the
entire board in caucus. desire and de-
! termination Of the board members to
step into the administrative field.
; were the main causes assigned by the
Superintendent as the reasons for the
I present conditions of unrest in the
system and differences between him
: and the board.
Board Astasonistic.
Defending himself of charges that
he was inefficient and always seeking
to shirk responsibility, the Superin-
, tendent charged the board had been
antagonistic toward him, instead of
helpful. as the good Of the school sys-
tenn requires. and that the criticisms
directed toward him were personal in
nature and were made solely in pri-
vate or secret conferences, with or
without his presence.
The revelations made by Superin-
tendent Thurston startled the 200 men
and women gathered in the board
room to hear this S.0OO-word address.
which brought to light for the first
. time the proceedings in the star
' chamber conferences held by the
board in the past
They charged, tried, condemned
and sentenced me in secret and In my
absence" declared Superintendent
Thurston in discussing the unusual
notification given him by President
Van Schaick that he tThurston) would
not be reelected when his term ex-
pired in June.
Cooled Heels Outside.
Superintendent Thurston declared
that he was virtually stripped OF all
yyh hoard
occa sions did not admit him to con-
ferences and excluded him from GER
tain sessions. He pointed out that
the law specifically provides the su-
perintendent shall take as much part
in board proceedings, except voting.
as any board r.ember.
"Never has tee criticism been con-
structive," said Thurston in answer
Y % attacks made upon him by mem
,sers of the board. He pointed out
that upon his reelection. in June,
1917. he attempted to obtain co-opcra-
tion. for the sake OF the school sys-
tom. from three members OF the
hoard who voted against him at cleo
tion time. He said he received no CO.
: operation from these members. but
rather has been handicapped In carry
ing on his work.
scores Star Chamber Sessions.
The superintendent pointed out that
nearly all important action taken by
the board is first decided In private
session, than legally acted upon in
public meeting. lie went on record
as opposing star chamber proceed
ines. stating they had embarrassed
him and numerous members OF the
board.
To prove tho methods OF President
Van Schaick used in attempting to
usurp powers, which the superin-
tendent said he believed the law fully
Intended he should have. Mr.. Thurs
ton stated In his speech:
Immediately on becoming presi-
dert COT the bosrd) Van Schaick es-
tabllshcd an office next to my own.
lie kept long Office hours daily. He
developed a policy Of receiving. d.
rect, complaints, criticisms, sugges-
lions. properly administrative in
character. Subordinate officials were
and arc Summoned for conference.