Evening star., 1920-03-25
Course Justified, He States,
as to PrincipaIShip at
Randall School.
EXPLAINS DELAY IN CASE
OF CHARLOTTE HUNTER
Superintendent, at Hearing. Makes
Reply to Critics on Board
of Education.

Supt. Ernest l.. Thurston today an
swered criticisms brought against him
by members of the board of education
! in connection with the selection of
the principal for the Randall School.
at the hearing before the Senate COM
mittee investigating the public
schools.
He insisted that his course in select
ing Miss Emmy Wilson as principal
for the Randall School had been en-
tirely justified
The case of Charlotte Hunter.
formerly a teacher in the colored
schools. who was mentioned in con-
nection With the Moens case. also was
discussed by Mr.. Thurston. who said
, that he had delayed action in tns
instance at the request of DR.. II. h.
, Learned. an investigator for the De-
Fartment of Justice, and a member of
the school board
DIR. Learned told me that the Moens
case was coming up for trial about
December To-. said the witness, "and
that no action should be taken in re-
gard to Miss Hunter before that time
because the question of intimidating
witness might arise. / had this re-
quest from a member of the Depart
ment of Justice; it was a war case
and | did not press it
Two Letters In Record.
Mr.. Thurston read into the record
| two letters. one written him March
II, 1919. by DR.. Learned. saying the
Moens trial was being delayed and
| suggesting that some action should
be taken in regard TO Miss Hunter
Ihe superintendent read his reply to
the board member. written three DAYS
later. saying that it was because of
| their earlier understanding that the
question had not been laid before the
board sooner.
At the next meeting of the board.
March 10. Mr.. Thurston said. the
matter of Miss Hunters trial or sus-
! pension was discussed. and at that
| time DR. Learned made a strong talk
against Miss Hunter. but asked for
poStponement of action on the same
grounds that he had asked the wit
ness to delay action.
Il still think l did exactly right in
the Hunter case" said the superin-
tendent.
The questions of the length of the
probationary period for teachers. as
to whether they should be appointed
| for an indefinite tenure, and proper
| length of terms for the superintend-
| ent and members of the board of edu-
cation were discussed and Mr.. Thurs.
| ton was ready to take up the Moens
case when the hour for adjournment
| arrived.
SuDt. ThurstOn Resumes.
Supt. Thurston resumed the stand
when the committee met today. He
called attention to telegram sent by
DIR. Van Schaick to DR.. Learned under
date of February 8, 1920. In the tele-
gram DIR. Van Schaick asked Or.
Learned's views regarding Supt.
/ Thurston and said,among other things.
! that. il might be for use in a public
board meeting on February Is.
Mr.. Thurston pointed out that the
letter sent TO him after the informal
conference of the board deciding
against his reelection was dated Feb
| ruary II.
apparently, some members of the
board must have had in mind. Febru-
airy 6. public action on the superin-
| tendent." said Mr.. Thurston.
| Mr.. ThurSton said that last night he
read over the record of the private
conferences of the board. held before
! the formal meetings, which had been
laid on his desk since the hearing be-
fore the Senate committee began.
1T appears to be summary OF
subjects considered in the conference
! or committee of the whole from Feb
ruary. 1918. to March. 1920" said
Mr.. Thurston. The early part of the
record merely lists subjects consd-
| cred. but, beginning March II. 1919.
action on matters which have come
before this committee is given"
Reference to Hunter Case.
Mr.. Thurston. consulting this rec
/ ord. said that he found a reference
I on April =. 1919, to the case of Char
lotte Hunter. a teacher. against whom
charges We're made in connection
! with the Moens case.
THE quest ion of hearing Miss Hun
| ter was raised. said Mr.. Thurston.
! There does not appear 10 be any
! record as TO whether Miss Hunter did
! appear on April l. il was recorded
| that Miss Hunter resigned so if she
! was given a private hearing by the
/ board it must have been prior to that
! date"
MIR. Thurston said that on April 2l
there appeared in the record a nota-
ton of a proposal that the resigna-
tion of the members of the board
should be rendered to the justices of
the Supreme Court. because of the
hostility of the public to the action
of the board in the case of Miss
Alice l.. Wood.
Mr.. Thurston said that there was no
further record of the matter. though he
thought it had been taken up by the
president of the board. Mr. Hamilton,
with either the chief justice or with
other members of the court
THE record just left il up in the air"
commented Senator Harrison.
Defends Course in Randall Case.
Taking up the Randall School case. be-
cause of which Mr.. Thurston has been
criticised at the present hearings by two
members of the board of education-Mrs.
Cook and Dr. Johnson-the superintend-
ent defended his course in that case
I'm the vernacular which has been used
i'm this hearing somftimes," said Mr..
Thurston, the Randall School case has
made me rather warm under the collar.
1t involved the appointment of princi-
pal of the Randall School. The action
of the board was one of approval of my
recommendation. / cannot quite under
stand now why the case should be
brought against the superintendent by
members of the board. Either I was
right or l was wrong. If l was wrong.
then the board would seem to have
something to explain"
Mr. Thurston said that question c"
policy was involved i'm this appointment.
that serious weakness IL the schools
is the teaching principal The teaching
principal is tied up with a small school
building Washington, he said. has more
than twice the number of school build
ngs than any other city of similar
size, because of these small buildings.
The teaching principal tries to
teach-ase run her building at the
same time" said Mr.. Thurston. THAT
is bad for the eighth grade wc~k and
I have had in mind a policy Tor the
relief of these principals.
Would Combine in One init.