Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-10

Il ILL IL
OF education. except where the matter
dealt with the character Of teachers.
Do you think that the official cor
| respondence of the superintendent
| board Of education?" asked Senator
Capper
Il have no objection. however, to
the president of the board seeing any
paper in my Office" replied Mr..
would you consider it improper to
go Sunday or at night and examine the
files of the board of education?" ask
ed Senator Harrison.
Notified the Board Secretary.
| Mr.. Thurston said that as a mat
ter of fact he had called up the sec
rotary of the board and told him he
was going to send his secretary to ex-
anime the files He repeated that he
had no objection of the board going
Through the superintendent's files. He
can go now while | am here. If he
desires" said Mr.. Thurston.
! DR.. Van Schaick INTERCEPTED a re-
| mark that one room was locked and
| the other was not.
| Il did not know that the other was
not locked said Mr.. Thurston. ANY
way, the janitor has a key which will
unlock all the doors"
! AT the time you went to the records
! you knew the board desired to elect
a new superintendent asked Senator
Harrison.
| Il was aware of that"
You didn't go there to see what
| they were doing about your success
| Sor?"
NO. I did not"
| You made the statement to the
committee that Dr. Van Schaick had
! withheld this letter.
Il made the point that the commit
| tee had called for the correspondence
betweea Or Van Schaick and Or.
! Learned and that this letter was not
submitted"
Came Into His Hands Accidentally.
Did YOU consider this letter one
you had a right to see?'
The witness replied that it had come
| into his hands accidentally; that he
| had not known of it and had not
been looking for it. He said that he
was in an embarrassing position, for
| if he withheld it he withheld infor-
nation from the committee. He said
| that question of ethics was involved
and that he was puzzled as to the
| square thing to do.
Have you looked for private files
of the board?"
The witness replied that he had not,
that he did not know there were any.
Question by DIR. Van Setback.
Has not the board a right to talk
over matters of a confidential nature
without the superintendent of schools
being present. was the substance of
4 question propounded by DR.. Van
Schaick.
Sitting as board, no." answered
Mr.. Thurston. except when discuss
ing the SUPPLEMENTARY"
Asked if the work of reclassifica-
ton was not being held up on ac-
count OF the present hearing, the SUI
perintendent said he did not know,
except that the board had taken no
official action to that end. Another
question was whether his rights had
been placed in jeopardy by the action
of DR.. Van Schaick in letters to teach
ers and others.
Il feel So said Mr. Thurston. II
should have been familiar with every
step in so important thing. very
vital thing that was going into the heart
of the schools l knew that teachers
would be called on for additional work
in connection with the survey. and 1
was desperately anxious to keep from
adding to their burdens
Did you ever court the friendship of
the union officials among the teachers?"
asked Senator Harrison.
In my official relations I court no
friendships
DO you think DR.. Van Schaick does?'
MY opinion is that he does, in cases
that have been mentioned here"
Replying to further questions. Mr..
Thurston said he did not think the
heads of the teachers unions were
particularly friendly to him, but that
he believed the majority of the teach
ers. union and non-union, believed in
him.
Question of Appeal to Public.
'If you RECOMMENDED that a teach
or school official be dismissed, would
you approve if that person appealed
to the press and public. in order to
retain the position?" was another
question asked at the instance of DR..
Van Schaick.
No. and I have not done that" said
Mr.. Thurston. II was not thinking
of the election next July, when I act
ed In this matter. but of taking the
only appeal l could from secret ac-
ton to official action In open meet
ing"
is it proper or improper for an
appointee of the board to stir no
opposition to the policies of the board
among the teachers or in the com
rnunity?' was another query
1T is not right. and this superin-
tendent has not done it," was the
reply.
In conclusion. Senator Harrison
asked the superintendent about the
vacation periods in Washington. and
the witness said he approved a fairly
long vacation at Easter, even If the
school year had to be heightened, The
senator suggested that when Congress
adjourned in May 1t meant that mem
berS and their aides who had children
in school would be held here by the
longer school year. and Mr.. Thurston
said that should be considered in fix
ing the date for beginning the sum