Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-13
THURSTON ACCUSED
BY BRUCE TODAY
Superintendent Sought to
Take Away Prerogatives,
Committee Told.

Charges that Supt. Thurston has at
tempted to take away from the as
sistant superintendent of colored
schools prerogatives given him under
the law were made by Assistant Supt.
Bruce at the hearing before the sena-
torial committee investigating the
school system Of the District, today.
Mr.. Bruce insisted that under the
law all recommendations for promo
tfons in the coiofed schools, teaching
-eeroes. etc..-should come from him and
that Mr.. ThRnsecnA~isA d-4f1gffeeed--iH
a number of instances:
He made the direct assertion that
through the influence OF Fountain
Peyton. a coloaed member Of the
board, Mr.. Thurston had been pre-
from the board Of examiners after
that board had failed to pass a daugh-
ter. OF Mr.. Peyton seeking a position
as teacher.
Before the hearing began today the
committee in Xecutive session deter
mined to hear Capt. James F. Oyster
after Mr.. Bruce had completed hts tes-
timony, and to allow any association
particularly interested in the schools
to send one witness, who would be
tee adjourned at noon until 4 o'clock
this afternoon
Sought to Observe Law.
II have sought to carry out the spirit
and letter of the organic school law
said Mr.. Bruce. He declared that in
his opinion the school law places the
control Of the teachers and of the pro-
motions directly under the assistant
superintendent for colored schools.
Recommends tions for promotions
were sent to me by Superintendent
Chancellor, said Mr.. Bruce. IT looked
them over and found that I could not
the matter up in a tactful way with the
superintendent and pointed out that,
under the law. recommendations for pro-
motions should originate with the as
sistant superintendent. The superin-
tendent acquiesced and recommended
tions prepared by my Office later were
approved Only on one or two other
occasions did such transactions occur I
acted in the same way and there was
no friction
Mr.. Bruce said that under Supts.
Stuart and Davidson no similar mis-
understanding ever arose on this
fundamental matter
The witness said that the colored
children are segregated in the
schools: that this segregation is felt
to impair democracy: that it is not
sought by the colored people but by
the dominant white people. He said
that it was only equitable that there
should be separate teaching. advisory
and administrative staffs in the COL
ored schools. The veto power of rec
concentrations made by the assistant
superintendent of colored schools had
schools in order to bring about a uni
f1cation of the school system. He gave
figures to show that comparatiyely
large percentage Of the colored stu
dents in the schools of Washington
continue into the intermediate and
high school grades.
Faith In Own Race.
Hundreds of families have sacri-
feed. not enjoyment. but comforts to
give their children the advantages Of
education" said Mr.. Bruce Booker
Washington was called too conserya-
In these days of unrest his teachings
are much needed. He set a significant
example in Tuskegee. He provided
teaching and advisory STATS exclu-
sively of negroes. His idea was to de-
velop faith among the boys and
girls among their own people and in
themselves. The same policy for the
colored schools, should be adopted for
the capital Of the nation"
Mr.. Bruce said that he had felt it
of great Importance that the provision
in the law placing the assistant su-
perintendent of colored schools in
control should be safeguarded. Where
he had deviated. he said. was to avoid
friction. but in every instance he had
tried to make plain to the superin- !
tendent his position in the matter.
Reads Prepared Statement.
Mr.. Bruce read prepared state |
ment dealing with legislation for the |
colered schools from the first part Of |
the nineteenth century until the pres !
ent. The law Of 1864. he pointed out. !
provided that the fund raised and ap !
for the public schools in |
Washington and Georgetown should |
be apportioned between the white and |
colored schools according to the ratio !
of white and colored children. Mr. |
Bruce contended that this was mat |
ter Of vital Importance which had not !
been followed, and urged that IL any |
legislation was proposed amending |
the school laws provision for such |
an allotment Of school funds be made. |
He said that over a period OF ten |
years only II per cent Of the aggre-
gate appropriation for the schools had
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