Evening star., 1920-03-26

quently."
TEACHERS UNIONS
UNDER DISCUSSION
Moens' Case Is Up This Afternoon
Before Senate Com
mittee.
Supt. Ernest L. Thurston today,
continuing as a witness before the
Senate committee investigating the
schools. charged that some members
of the board Of education in the past
had attempted to influence him in the
matter of appointments and promo
tions in the public schools.
He mentioned particularly in this
connection Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes,
as one member of the board who
prior to his reelection as superin.
tendent in 1917. frequently called
him up with regard to appointments
and promotions. He said that she
voted against him in 1917 and there
after had not approached MIN oIten
that Mrs. Rhodes had differed from
him regarding the extent to which
board members should interfere In
such matters.
Her Appeals "Ann0ying."
He said that the frequent appeals to
him by Mrs. Rhodes had been steadily
and consistently annoying" to him.
Mrs. Rhodes, he said, was a capable
member of the board, but that she had
the old idea regarding the extent to
which members Of board Of education
should seek to enter upon these school
details.
The superintendent told the committee
that the number of times in which he
and the assistant superintendent OF COL
ored schools had seriously differed over
appointments could be counted on the
fingers of one hand He detailed to the
committee several cases where they had
differed.
Teachers' Unions Up.
A large part of the hearing today
was given over to the question of
teachers unions. In answer to ques-
tions by various members of the COM
mittee, Supt. Thurston said he be-
lieved in an organization of teachers
for professional purposes. but he was
opposed as a matter of principle to
having them affiliate with outside or
'eai,ixstions. including the American
Federation of Labor. The superin-
tendentS said he wanted 1t clearly un-
derstvod that this objection was
faAftef of opinion and. WAS not based
ions aIiything which had occurred In
the District schools.
The witness expressed confidence in
the great body oftlocal teachers. and
said that he could not imagine them
being Improperly influenced to any
iarse dt ahe 9y of te
school-teaching force was in the
unions. he added. but the number fall
ing in that classification was very
small. indeed.
Takes Up Mocns' Connection.
Shortly before adjournment Mr..
Thurston took UP his connection with
the Moens case. saying he had met
Moens but once. The witness told of
having placed a stop order" against
admitting Moens to the schools as
soon as complaint was made of his
actions. Mr.. Thurston said he was
sity Of taking such action while Moens
had q letter of introduction from the
president Of the school board.
Takes Up Case Of Miss Wilson.
.Supt. Thurston presented to the
committee the mendati ton for
the promotion Of Miss Emmy Wilson
to be principal at the Randall School.
was signed by Assistant Supt. Bruce.
as well as himself. Hhe said that this
was the only ofilcially signed recon-
mendation with regard to the case
he could find in the hles.
MRS. Cook during her testimony
spoke of a letter Of protest addressed
to me by the teachers and principals
in that school district" said Mr..
Thurston, land said that I had made
no reply to that protest. 30 far as
sent a letter acknowledging receipt
of the protest and later wrote her a
reply outlining my reasons for rec
omm ending Miss Wilson FOR principal
of the Randall School. 1t covered
practically the same grounds as my
day"
the record, in which he said that in
making promotions to principalships
the question Of ability to lead was In
yolved and must be taken into consfd-
Grafton as we'll as the ability of the
teacher to be an eighth grade teacher
Mrs. Cook Interrupts.
At this point Mrs. Cook interrupted
to say that the protest of the colored
teachers regarding the Randall School
appointment was not covered In the
reply read by Mr.. Thurston. She said
that the teachers had been actuated in
the matter by the law. which says
that colored teachers shall not be pro-
NOTED from one class to another ex-
cept after recommendation signed by
the assistant superintendent and the
supervising school officer.
"What have you to say to that. Mr..
Thurston?" asked Senator Harrison.
There it is" said Mr.. Thurston.
DointinE to the recommendation of
Miss Wilson, signed by Mr.. Bruce
and myself"
while this conforms with the law.
nevertheless protest was made by
Mr.. Bruce" said Senator Harrison.
DO YOU think your influence finally
brought him around SO that the rec
ommendation could be made in con-
formity with the law?
Mr.. Thurston said that he thought
the constant conferences which he had
had with Mr.. Bruce in regard to this
matter had had weight.
"Is this an exceptional case" asked
Senator Harrison. "or does 1t fire.
ouently happen that the superintend-
ent and assistant superintendent and
superyisinE officer disagree over
these promotions and appointInents?"
.I could count on the fingers of one
hand the serious cases" replied Mr..
Thurston "In ninety-nine cases out
Of 100 there is never any question
raised at ALL Sometimes questions do
arise ON appeal to me. Mr.. Bruce may
wish to transfer a teacher. for in
stance. to another building. and the
teacher may protest to me and l In
vestiCate the case. In one or two
cases have interfered. properly 1
think.