The Washington times., 1920-03-24
THURSTON DEFENDS
SELF AT HEARING
Says lnefficiency Charge Trivial.
Justifies Work in War
Period.
CONTINUED from First Pags.)

to the public. Mr.. Thurston put into
the record a letter from the editor
OF The Washington Times, earnestly
requesting me to make a general
| statement as TO the needs OF the
schools and recognizing the superin-
tendent as a spokesman for the
schools
II showed this letter TO Mr.. Van
Schaick, and he approved the idea
that 1 should write such an article
for The Times, and he did not limit
me TO this single article In expressing
my views" said Superintendent
| Thurston.
| The article written for The Times
by Superintendent Thurston was
placed into the record OF the hearing
Either the president OF the board
desired me TO write such an article
! and TO place my views before the
public said Mr.. Thurston. ''or he
desired to place me in a definite posi-
ton In opposition to the board"
| Superintendent Thurston said that
he had been refused the testimony IN
| tho Bruce case by DR.. Learnsi, ard
that the sch Jol employe In charge of
1t had definite orders not to let him
see 1t. 1t was brought out that this
action was taken because certain
teachers had been promised protec-
ton In giving their testimony In the
case.
| Denied Copy of Testimsny.
| Mr.. Van Schaick must have known
that did not have "A copy OF this tss-
| timony," he said, despite his state
ment that he did not know Of II until
this hearing began"
| A small sensation was caused
when Superintendent Thurston stated
that within the last few days Harry
o. Hine. secretary of the Board OF
Education, had written up the min
utes OF all the conferences OF the
board since 1918 and placed them on
his desk.
was his failure to write up these
minutes before due to negligence. or
| was 1t done under orders?" asked
Senator Walsh.
81 do not know" said Thurston. at
has never been requested to write up
these minutes. I do not now the mean
ing of Hines action In writing up the
minutes for SO long a period and pre-
senting them to me now"
Declares Board Acted secretly.
DR.. Thurston stated that practically
all the important work Of the board
was done Secretly" and that the
|
formal action at the board meetings
He cited Informally his grievances
against the board including the fact
that he had not been allowed to sit
with the board when II considered
| the Bruce case.
THE schools in Washington disin
| tegrated under war conditions" he
said. THE substitute force Of teach
ers was shot to pieces and the janitor
service was utterly disorganized ow-
ing to the higher salaries offered by
| the Government" He said that in
| 1918 10 3anitors left out Of the total
force of 2SS; 1913 left last year. and
forty-five so far this year. Many OF
them deserted without a days notice
| he said. The range of pay for a
janitor is from $40 to $40.
81 should think there would be
desertions," said Senator Walsh, in
view Of what you pay them"
Superintendent Thurston stated that
. the Government departments were
filled with excellent teachers who
would GLADLY enter the Washington
school system. IL salaries were suffi-
cient. Naturally they hesitated to
leave q 81 800 position for one paying
$3.50.
Superintendent Thurston also
gave statistics showing the vast in
crease in tho administrative work OF
his Office, with force Of only forty
clerks, thirty of whom were getting
only $72O a year.
Superintendent Thurston placed in
the record letter written by Van
Schaick to DR.. Learned on February
20 Of the present year, in which the
former stated: I'VE will dismiss
Thurston instantly II he Is guilty
Of improper or disloyal conduct.
| II believe I would not be superin.
tendent of schools in Washington
now" he said, III the Senate had not
lordered an investigation"