Evening star., 1920-03-19
STATES VIEWS ON
CONDITIONS IN D. c.
COLORED SCHOOLS
Mrs. C. F. Cook Lays CritI-
cism of Bruce to Appoint
ments and Promotions.
MANY SEEK POSITIONS,
SHE TELLS SENATORS

urges Negro institutions ohaIe
Proportionately With White, Ac-
cording to Number of Pupils.
Conditions in the colored schools OF
Washington today engaged the atten-
ton of the Senate committee investi-
eating the public schools here, Mrs.
Coralie F. Cook, the first colored mem
Der of the board of education to be
heard, being questioned at length by
Senator Harrison.
The witness said she believed much
of the dissatisfaction against Roscoe
c. Bruce. assistant superintendent for
eolored schools, had arisen from ap-
pointments and promotions, master
in which she said he had "a maximum
of responsibility and minimum of
authority" She said that the num-
Der of applicants was proportionately
larger in the colored schools than in
the white schools. because of the very
of education.
Mrs. Cook suggested that the school
appropriations should be divided
among the white and colored schools
in proportion to the number of pupils
in each. and that the superintendent
or assistant superintendent in charge
of colored schools be made RESPONSE
Questioned as to Niece.
Senator Harrison questioned the
witness at length in regard to her
niece, Mary F. Clifford. now a teacher
in the Kansas City schools. and who
was for time on the eligibility list
of Washington teachers. The SEN
ator said 1t was "in the wind" that
Mrs. Cook had tried to insure the
appointment of her niece.
This was denied with emphasis by
Mrs. Cook, who asked the senatorsto
question Supt. Thurston, Assistant
Supt. Bruce and all the members of
the board of education to assure the
committee that she had never attempted
to use her influence in the interest Of a
relative.
Norton, general secretary of commu-
nifty center work. had on one occasion
visited her to inquire for suitable
assistant secretary for one of the
colored community .centers. Mrs. Cook
said on that occasion she had told
Miss Norton Of the auaiificatien OF the
relative in question. but had asked
her not to be Influenced by any mat
ter Of relationship. subsequently the
board OF education approved Miss
Norton's nomination of Miss Clifford
for the assistant -secretaryship, but
two weeks the latter returned to Kan
sas City because the school board
there would not release her.
Explalns Her Vote.
Questioned as to her reasons for
voting not to re-elect Mr.. Thurston
as superintendent Of schools. Mrs.
Cook repeated in substance the crit
icisms made by other members of the
board. to the effect that he lacked
administrative ability and did not
seem able to- grasp a, trying situation
when confronted with one.
Before adjourning for the day the
committee agreed that it would not
be necessary to summon DR.. H. B.
Learned from California to testify in
the hearings. DR.. Learned. member
of the board of education, is now lee
turing at the Leland Stanford Uni
versity.
Mrs. Cook Put ON stand.
Mrs. Gerry was delayed in reaching
the committee room this morning. so
the committee put on the stand, Mrs.
Coralie F. Cook, a colored member of
the board of education: Mrs. Cook
said that in the absence Of DR..
Learned. who, with herself, had draft
ed the majority report in the Bruce
the Bruce case at the present investf-
cation. She then read to the board a
statement which she had prepared.
Mrs Cook. in her statement, said
that while she was interested in the
progress of all the public schools. it
was natural that she should have
given particular attention to the col
ored schools. When she became a
member of the board of education.
July /, 1914. she said she found that
there was a feeling among the white
members of the board that the colored
schools gave more trouble than the
white. Mrs. Cook said she thought
some remedy should be found, if that
were the case.
Many complaints about appoint
mepts and promotions and discharges
Of teachers in the colored schools
were heard. she said. and board mem
bers were accused Of nepotism. The
assistant superintendent in charge of
the public schools was frequently at
tackled.
Il ceased to wonder at the situa-
ton after / had looked into it," said
Mrs. Cook. "I could see reasons why
there should be these criticisms
On Economic Question.
Mrs. Cook said that the handicap
under which educated colored people
labor when it comes to obtaining
work was because of enormous pres
sure for Jobs as teachers in the col
ored public schools. The question
Mrs, Cook described to the commit
tee the system which has prevailed in
the District Of Columbia with regard
to the white and coiored public
schools. Until 1874. she said, there
was one board Tor the ~mte sShools
and each had a superintendent. In
1874 the boards were consolidated.
hut still each group OF schools had
its superintendent.
In 1900 the system was unified with
one superintendent and an assistant.
were made that the as
sistant superintendent was not given
snfficient authority in the colored
Schools. Congress, in 1906. changed
the law, SO that the assistant superin-
tandent of colored schools. under the
s,,nerintendent, should have the sole
charee" of teachers. classes and
Mrs. Cook said that the recommends
f;ons of the assistant superintendent,
ever. were subject to the veto of the
sunerintendent. This. she said, was
NOT eanerally understood. apparently,
and the assistant suerintendent was
held responsible by the colored people
Of the district for all the appoint
ments promotions and discharges in
the colored schools.
Made strong President.
..Mr. George e. Hamilton. as has
been said here. made a fine, strong
nresident of the board" said Mrs
Cook, "He viewed with apprehension
the growing distrust of the public in
the schools: He put through a rule of
the board that the assistant superin-
tendent should attend the meetings of
the board.
There are no more faithful and un-
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