Evening star., 1920-03-21

LAUNCHING OF the DattIeSnip mnfyinn0s
mr. by Lieut.. J. p. Hodges Of the Dis
lie wind. The avint0rs were forced
Der of the board, resumed her testi-
mony interrupted two days ago.
She said that after she went on the
board many complaints had come to
her regarding the administration OF
the high schools She herself had for
merly taught in the high schools.
were not in as good condition as for
merly." said Mrs. Gerry. There was a
lack Of unffying control"
She said she had asked the superin-
tendent about the high schools. and
that the complaints had become so nu-
merous that in 1918 she had moved
strongly in the matter. Regulations
were then adopted. What she COM
planned of was that tho superintend-
ent had not dealt with these matters
himself. since they were all matters
of administration.
Asked Thurston About Bruce.
Referring to the Bruce case, Mrs.
Gerry said she had repeatedly asked
,, Mr.. Thurston what he thought about
the assistant superintendent. but that
she had never been able to get an
opinion out Of him. She said she had
asked Mr.. Thurston. at ono conference.
about the charges against Bruce. and
that he had replied he had gone into
the charges as far as he could but had
found no substantfation.
But when Mr. Thurston made his
public reply to the board recently" said
Mrs. Gerry, ''he said that he had In
herfted the Bruce case when he became
superintendent. and the relationship with
Bruce had been q cause of trouble to
him. ,.. fs.t - o, =
Either hs should have. supported. the
assistant superintendent generously s.
| continued Mrs. Gerry, ''or he should
have recommended his dismissal"
When you made up your mind to
get a new superintendent, was the
idea also to get new assistant super
| intendent?" asked Senator Harrison.
1T was never considered by the
| board"
Mrs. Gerry said she had read the
evidence and report In the Bruce cass
and that not ono Of the CHARGES
against Bruce had been sustained.
"The evidence was flimsy and the
animus clear" she said.
Critfcises Selection OF Teacher.
Mrs. Gerry said that she had become
much interested In the night schools
war broke out. and had tried to aid
In this work Of Americanixation. She
| met the teachers and was surprised
that the principal selected Miss Shan
ley, VINO had no experience in teach
ing aliens. Miss Stanley. said Mrs
Gerry. was a woman Of ability. an
efficient teacher in the Business High
| School. but only a teacher who had
specialized In the instruction Of aliens
she said. should have been selected
The appointment. which was made by
| Mr.. Thurston. she said. was not wise
one.
WAS It possible to get a more COM
| rison.
There were several women who
had had the needed experience and
who would have been better appoint
Mrs. Gerry said that when the sys.
had been developed Mr.. Thurston un-
dertook to place Miss Stanley at its
head. Mrs. Gerry said that another
teacher, Miss Alton. was better quail.
1ed. and that she. Mrs. Gerry, had
superintendent.
| Motive IL Sought.
| WAS 1t a mere matter of poor jpdg-
msnt or was the superintendent play.
| Amy one who had watched the work
in the schools could not have failed to
know which was the better appoint
ment." replied Mrs. Gerry.
| What Is your inference. Mrs
Gerry" asked Senator Harrison.
that Miss STANLEY was a capable
woman. think. too, that he thought
Miss Stanley belonged to a strong
group Of teachers in the system"
Did she belong to the union?"
Z mo. but Miss Alton did"
Miss Alton Substituted.
Mrs. Gerry said that Miss Shanley's
name had been withdrawn by Mr.
Thurston and the name of Miss Alton
was substituted by him.
How did the vote stand?'
Mrs. Gerry said that while she could
not remember all the details. ehs
Thought that Mr.. Hamilton had ia
ISchaick. Mrs. Rhodes, Mrs. Cook and
she herself had favored Miss Alton.
'Then the members Of the board who
had opposed Thurston voted against
him in the case Of this recommends.
tion." said Senator Harrison. And the
party who belonged to the union was
substituted for the party who die
not"
''Ths unions had nothing to do with
this case." insisted Mrs. Gerry. She
No Vote ON Case.
DR.. Van .Schaiek reminded Mrs
lGerry that there had been no vote in
the board on this case. but that the
superintendent had Withdrawn Miss
Shanley's name and substituted the
other after the discussion.
IT stand corrected" said Mrs. Gerry
IT had forgotten"
why did you think that these mem
bers you named had voted with your
asked Senator Harrison.
because they had told me how they
felt"
Mrs. Gerry said that IN his state.
ment Mr. Thurston had spoken oI
progressive movements in the schools
under his administration, including
the schools for the Americanizatior
Of aliens.
'In my opinion the success Of thi.
movement was due entirely to other
people," she said. 'rMr. Thurston wa,
lukewarm when 1t was broached tc
him."
She said that he had mentioned, too
the establishment of the Junior higf
school This plan, she said, originated
not with Mr.. Thurston. but q grour
Of teachers. He was slow to take Il
up and she UT ,erstood that, although
the Junior high school had opened las,
fall. Mr.. Thurston paid his first visi,
to 1t since the Senate hearings besaI
last week.