The Washington herald., 1920-04-03
BOARD
TAKEN TO TASK
Peyton Tells Probers His
Colleagues Interfered
With Thurston.
RECESS TILL MONDAY
Committee to See If Educa-
tional Clique Exists in
District.
RECESS TILL MONDAY

George E. Hamilton, Ernest II.
Daniel. John B. Larner and William
T. Galliher. all former members of
the Board Of Education, will be
called to testify before the Senate
school investigating committee at
10 o'clock Monday morning. They
viii be questioned with q view to
throwing light on the possible ex-
istence OF q clique in the board.
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. a MEM
Der OF the board. is i'll, DIR. Van
Schaick told the committee, and
VIII be unable to appear for the
present.
At the conclusion Of the testi-
mony Of Fountain Peyton, colored
member of the board, yesterday the
committee recessed until Monday.
Board Held to Blame.
Peyton asserted that the white
schools had been running smoothly
until early In 1917 when DR.. Van
Schaick first began his opposition
to Thurston.
He said another element which
had aggravated the situation was
the interference on the part Of the
school board with matters under
the jurisdiction Of the superintend-
ent.
"Dn you think the encroachment
OF the school board on Thurston's
duties affected his efriciency?" asked
Senator Harrison.
Peyton replied in the affirmative,
and added that he thought the
schools would have gotten on well
IL ii had not been for the encroach-
inert of the board.
Thinks Bruce Influenced.
He said it was a queer anomaly
that the school board wanted to get
rid of Thurston when the white
teachers and parents were satisfied
with him. and defended Assistant
Superintendent Bruce. in charge or
colored schools, when the majority
OF the colored parents wanted him
retired.
Peyton was asked il he thought
promotions. demotions and transfers
! in the colored schools were affected
; by the fact that some teachers had
testified for or against Bruce.
Peyton cited four or five cases in
! which. he said, the inference could
be made that Bruce had been infiu-
enced by the testimony of the
teachers and that certain promo
tions were given as rewards, but
that there was no positive proof
Peyton declared that promotions Of
those appearing against Bruce
could not be found with a micro
scope"
No Demotions Cited.
The witness did not cite any de-
motions of those opposing Bruce,
but recited an instance which might
be construed as an effort to elimi-
nate two of those witnesses-Super-
visor Krall and DR.. Moten. princi-
pal of the Miner Normal School.
During a school board confer
ence on the reorganization program,
he said. DR.. Van Schaick had called
across the table to Bruce:
Isn't it about time you changed
some of those heads of depart
ments?"
Mr.. Bruce said Yes and started
to say something about Miss
Riggs" said Peyton. when Super
intendcnt ,Thurston intciposed. pro-
testing that under the law. Bruce
had no right to take those mat
ters up direct with the board" DIR.
Van Schaick replied. Wen put it
over and you can go to law about
II II you want to-.
wants Competitive Tests.
The change was not made, Pey-
ton said. After Thurston showed
his teeth they retreated." he said.
Peyton took occasion TO criticise
the method Of holding qualification
examinations. He said he had al
ways contended for competitive ex-
aminations.
Peyton questioned Van Schaick's
sincerity when he told how the
board president. upon his return
from Europe. had asked him to
support Hamilton for reelection to
the presidency as a vindication of
his administration during the pre-
vious year. Peyton said he was
confident DR.. Van Schaicl< was him
self a candidate and was not sim
nara In oSL;nr for =