The Washington times., 1920-05-26
INDICTMENT Of
SCHOOLS MILD
Senators Report 0efers to
Wishes. Of Walsh and Cap
per on Thurston.

The report on the District School
system, given TO the Senate today
by the District investigating sub
committee, is conservative" indict-
ment Of the present system.
At the eleventh hour the report
had to be modified to meet the views
Of Senator'S Capper and Walsh with
reference to the Thurston-Van
Schaick controversy.
Oppose Clearing" Thurston.
These Senators are strongly OF the
belief that Superintendent OF Schools
| Thurston should not be given q clean
bill OF health In the report, In asmuch
As that would tie the hands Of any
future board OF education and virtu-
ally give Thurston a life tenure In
his position.
| These Senators do not care to be
regarded as either pro-van Schsick
| or pro-Thurston, but they do not be-
| lieve that the present board OF edu-
CO tion should be abolished until a
new one 10 organized and that no
statement In the report should be
taken as strengthening the grip of
4
| The new board Of education should
have entire freedom of action with
regard to the retention OF Superin-
tendent Thurston, according TO the
views OF Senators Capper and Walsh.
| Favor. New Beard.
| The report recommends the follow
ing:
/, Abolition of the present Board of
Education and its reconstruction upon
| entirely new lines. No member OF the
board Is singled out for criticism, but
the committee believes that an entire-
| ly new personnel is necessary.
| A change in the method of selecting
the Board Of Education is urged by
the subcommittee. Transfer of the ap-
pointing power from the District Su-
preme Court judges to the President
is recommended. All nominations
made by the President for the board
the Senate.
The reduction Of the membership Of
the board from nine members to six
is recommended. Four Of the men,
bers are to be white and two colored.
The retention OF Superintendent OF
Schools Thurston Is urged. The sub
committee is strongly of the opinion
that the dismissal OF the superintend-
ent will be subversive OF discipline In
the schools and demoralize the sys-
tenn even more than at present. The
report declares that q continuation of
the present feud between one faction
in the schools and the other will be
the only result OF 3 change Of super
iintendents at this time.
Recommends BusiRess Msnaser.
The appointment OF business man
aGer for the school system. to relieve
the superintendent OF all administra-
tive burdens, 10 recommended.
| A survey Of the schools, to be made
by educational experts. not connected
| with the present system, is urged
upon the Senate as an Immediate
duty. The subcommittee states that
1t can make no further recommended
tions relating to the schools until
this survery has been completed.
The report Is unanimous, being
signed by Senator sherman. chair
man. and Senators Dillingham;, Cap
per. Walsh. of Massachusetts, and
certain element Of the subcom-
mittee desired to make the report
much stronger in criticism of the
present regime on the Board Of Edu-
cation than the final draft indicates.
For the sake of making q unanimous
report to the Senate. however, this
faction receded from its stand and
\ COHscnteO 10 hdAc tHo ioPoit eehS'o'
in character.
| Senator Harrison was the leader in
the attack upon Van Schaick. but he
consented to sign the report as IL
nally drafted, believing that he would
have other opportunities OF making
clear his views on the character OF
the president Of the board.
sherman Supports Harrison.
| Senator Sherman, chairman OF the
subcommittee, Is understood TO have
been a supporter of Harrisons views
in this regard.
Senators Capper and Walsh. how
ever. believe the constructive features
of the report would be buried BY
emphasis placed upon the factional
rows in the school system. So far
as can be ascertained. however. no
member OF the subcommittee upheld
the Van Schaick end OF the school
controversy, but = majority was found
to be in favor OF omitting direct
criticism in the report.
The subcommittee recognizes that
teachers salaries in the District must
be substantially increased IL the
morale OF the schools Is TO be re-
stored. Community center work is
generally indorsed, but the recon-
mendation is made that the supervis-
ion of all dances or recreation be
stricter than at present
1t Is not probable the Senate will
attempt TO pass any legislation based
on the report at tho present session.
The subcommittee does not ccntem-
plate drafting any legislation until
after the survey of the schools Is
made.