The Washington times., 1920-03-24
SCHOOL HEAD
DEFENDSSELF
Says Board Failed to Appre-
ciate His Task-Handicapped
BY Prejudice.
AFFIRMS HIS LOYALTY
Claims Secret Plan to Dismiss
Him Without Granting
! Hearing.
AFFIRMS HIS LOYALTY

Declaring that he ''had brought
the schools through the war; credi-
tably, Superintendent of Schools
Thurston made his defense in the
feud between him and the Board Of
Education before the Senate investi-
eating subcommittee today.
Points Out His Huge Task.
He rested his case on the state
ment that the board had utterly fall
ed to appreciate the huge task that
confronted him with the increase Of
school, population. the great increase
in Administrative detail and the de-
the stress of the war period. and as
serted that the bill OF particulars
brought by certain members Of the
board with reference to inefficiency
was trivial.
without making a direct charge of
persecution. Superintendent Thurs
ton cited facts to show that a spirit
of prejudice had clouded his relations
with the board for years, and made
1T impossible for him to do his best
work.
He read a prepared statement. open
ing with a defense of his appeal to
the community when the board noti-
fled him that his services would be
no longer needed after June 1 Of the
present year.
my reaction to this note was in
stant and positive, he said, "and
decided on a line of action after con-
sulting a number of my friends. in
GLIDING Henry B. Blair. former prcsf-
dent of the board, and w. II. CALI
her, former board member.
Letter Not Confidential.
"The letter written to me was not
confidential. and it showed that GER
tain members of the board had
reached a definite decision to dismiss
me without making any charges
against me. without opportunity to
discuss with me my alleged short
comings.
.I was forced to the conclusion
there was no possibility of fair action,
and 1 had lost faith in private confer
ences. / felt that my professional
self-respect demanded that I know
the reason why l was to be dismissed.
1 had spent my entire career in the
Washington schools. and had riscL
not seek another position without
telling why l left Washington"
with reference TO the boards al
legged desire to shield him from pub
licity on his dismissal while he was
seeking a new position, DR.. Thurston
said the matter was bound to leak
out. AS an instance of how school
matters became instantly known all
over the country, Mr.. Thurston cited
~ 10
made a secret journey to Kansas City
in 1917 to seek a new superintendent,
without any authority from the board,
he was acquainted with all the facts
within twenty four hours.
PuxsIed st DisloyaIty Charge.
.~The Board of Education first OF all
stated IN effect that they were dis
missing me because l was not an able
administrator" he said. Later. be-
fore this committee, Or. Van Schaick
amended his attack on me to include
the charge of disloyalty. I cannot
Imagine on what fact this charge is
based, unless it he my addresses in
certain public meetings, made with
reference to the teachers reorgani-
cation plan.
"I have been criticised for address,
ing n meeting OF teachers on Decem-
ber 0. There was a general demand
10 know eNaCtiy where lne Superln-
+endent stood with reference to GER
rain questions. My thought was to
rteady the system and prevent dis
integration.
"One week later Mr.. Van Schaick
presented the board plan of reorgani-
,,ation at a mass meeting of teachers"
Senator Walsh asked II Il was not
npparent that friction between the
board, the superintendent and the
teachers was developed by such mass
meetings. He criticised harshly the
idea that teachers should hold meet
ings and exert pressure this way
4, nd that whenever any administrative
or reorganization matters came be-
rore the board for consideration.
Mr.. Thurston said Mr.. Van Schaick
Lad given the teachers n promise
tnat their objections TO the plan would
bo considered in conference later, but
that nothing further was done about
81, and that apparently the original
plan stood"
"Too Much Discussior.-
Yes. agree with you, Senator
walsh, that there has been too much
citation and discussion. certainly too
much for quick administration" said
III. Thurston.
As illustrating the fact that Van
-haick fully approved of his plan OF
inaking known his own school policies
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