The Washington herald., 1920-03-27
BARRED MOENS,
SAYS THURSTON.
Annoyed" by Mrs. Rhodes
He Kept Scientist" Out
OF Schools.
COMMENTS ON UNION
Annoyed by Mrs. Rhodes
Prior to 1917 Election. s
Witness States.
COMMENTS ON UNION

Ernest I. Thurston. superinten-
dent Of schools. told the Senate COM
mittee investigating school condi.
tions yesterday he had been "stead..
lily and consistently annoyed" by one
Of the members of the school board,
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. in trying to
influence his Judgment In the ap-
pointment of teachers.
He also said the Teachers Union
had insisted that principals should
be elected by the vote Of the teach.
ers.
He defended. however, both Mrs.
Rhodes and the Teachers unions.
He said the attitude of Mrs.
Rhodes was based upon an honest
difference Of opinion as to the pre-
rogatives Of the superintendent.
He declared himself strongly In
favor OF teachers organisation, but
said there was q line which they
should not overstep - that of inter.
tering with administrative functions
OF the school system.
Ceases to Interfere.
The Interference of Mrs. Rhodes,
ne said, WAS confined mostly 10 the
period before his election in 1917
After voting against him. he said,
she had ceased almost entirely TO
interfere with his work Other mem-
oers OF the board. he said, seldom
attempted to. influence his Judgment.
while approving the organization
OF teachers and their afiiliation with
other teacher organisations all over
the United States, Thurston ex-
pressed disapproval of affiliation
win the American Federation of
La Dor.
Tburston charged that the Teach.
ers Union was directly responsible
Tor the split in the schools in the
WOOD case. but he also laid part
OF TIE responsibility on the board
ana at the door of Miss Wood her
self.
Differs with Mrs. Cook.
Thurston refuted Testimony Of Mrs.
Cook to the effect that when q num-
Der of teachers protested against
the appointment of Miss Emmy Will
son as principal in the Randall
School. the protest was ignored ~
the superintendent.
Mrs. Cook interrupted at this
point saying the law provides coll
ored teachers shall not be promoted
from one class to another without
recommendation signed by the as
sistant superintendent and the SUI
pcrvisinE school ofiiciai.
Tnurston said tAe Recommendation
had been signed by Bruce and him
self. but admitted that Bruce had
recommended verbally another ap-
ipointment,
He refused to admit. however. that
ne had coerced Bruce into signing
the recommendation.
Harmsay the Rule.
| Il could count on the fingers of
one hand the serious cases." said
| Thurston in reply to inquiry by
Senator Harrison as to whether he
! frequently disagreed with the rec
omme ndstions of the assistant su-
perinte ndent I'm 80 cases out of
100 there is never any question at
all"
/ Taking up the Moens case, Thurs
} ton said his first contact with the
so-called scientist was when he
called to pay his respects and want
ed permission to attend COM
/ mencement of the colored school
children.
! He said Bruc, told him Moens
was causing some uneasiness in the
| schools. Thurston said he ut once
! issued a stop order" against his
! further admittance to the schools.
but admitted that in SO doing he
! was not a little embarrassed be-
| cause he knew Moens had been let
! into the shcools by DIR. Van Schaick,
! Moens never visited the schools
after the stop order, the witness
J said