Evening star., 1920-03-04
MR.. THURSTON SAYS SCHOOL
BOARD USURPED HIS RIGHTS
tration and Accuses Educational Advisers
of Lack of Cooperation.

Ernest l.. Thurston vigorously de-
| Tended his administration as superin-
tendent of schools during the last
three years and recited a long list of
allegations against the board of edu-
cation in a 7,0OO-word statement. de-
day afternoon.
ties he has faced in what he termed
the steady opposition of DR.. John Van
Schaick. jr.. president, and some 9TH
er members. and made special points
about the secret activities of the body
and is alleged usurpation of admin
istrat le authority under the leader
ship of DR.. Van Schaick. Three mem
bers o. the board We're abSent-Dr.
Henry B. Learned. who is in Califor-
mia: DR. Abram Simon and DR.. Charles
+. Neiil.
IL was the superintendent reply to
! the notice sent him by the board two
weeks ago that he would not be fe-
elected when his present three year
f; term ends. June 80 next. on the ground
that he is not a strong inistra tor:
| that he is reluctant to accept respon-
sibility. and that it is impossible for
the board to work harmon iously with
f: him.
Omcials Rights Invaded.
Mr. Thurston said that since DR.. Van
Schaick has been president of the
board there has been no harmony be-
| tween it and the superintendent ex-
ceDf during the war period. when the
president was in Europe. lie told
also how members of the board con-
Stantly sought to invade the rights
of the superintendent in nominating
teachers. and revealed that one MEM
ber of the board had sought well
paid administrative position in the
school system.
In his statement. Mr. Thurston fur
ther charged that the board has
conducted administrative business IL
legally in secret sessions. and that
1t deliberately refused him admittance
to hearings in the Roscoe c. Bruce
tr'ai. an admiftance to which he said
he was entitled under the law. Speak
ing further of the Bruce case the su-
perintendent declared that the board
had destroyed all except one or two
copies of the testimony, which had
been prepared at great expense to the
public. and that he had. been denied
access to the record.
AT the beginning of his statement.
! Mr.. Thurston called attention to the
fact that the board had charged
tried. condemned and sentenced" him
in secret and in his absence. and "of
course the meeting was not legal in
lie SeIse OI lne statute,
Many 1ntercsted Listeners.
Persons interested in hearing Mr.
| Thurston's defense began to fill the
room in which board meetings are
held two hours before the session
was called to order. and by 4 o'clock.
when the meeting began. not only the
room was packed, but also the halls
leading to it
In the audience were representa- tives
iof civic organizati tions. of teachers
unions and associations and of the pa
rents League. AS Mr.. Thurston made
his points in his statement evidence of
approval was given by his listeners.
The board heard the long statement
without visible perturbation. Mrs. Susie
Root Rhodes and Mrs. Margarita Spauld-
ing Gerry took notes. DR. Van Schaick
faced Mr.. Thurston, gave close attention
| TO what he had to say and moved but
| little during he.fiffy minutes the super
intendent held the floor. At the end, as
soon as the prolonged applause had sub
sided. he said, quietly:
"Mr. Thurson's statement will be
made a part Of the record
Mr. Thurston's statement in full
follows:
March 3. 1920.
ITO the Board of Education
of the District of Columbia.
Ladies and Gentlemen: At a meet
ing of some of the members OF the
board held on date and at a place e
not yet disclosed to me. and of which
advance notice was not given to all
members or to me, a decision was
reached TO dispense with my services
as superintendent of schools. at the
close of my term of Office, June 80
1920. This group of members took
this action as for the entire board.
without a fullIboard conference.
They took action without conference
! with me. without warning to me and
| without statement of reasons. They
| charged. tried. condemned and sem
fenced me in secret and in my alb
| sence. Considering their action as in
| effect board action. they gave me no.
! tice through the president.
| "Of course. the meeting was not
! legal in the sense of the statute. In
a regular board conference notice
should have been sent to all mem
bers and to me. In effect the super
! iintendent is board member, with
positive rights and only one stated
! limitation. The law says: He (the
superintendent shall have seat in
! the board and the right to speak on
| all matters before the board. but not
! the right to vote ask that special
attention be given this statemen;
! from the act of June 20, 1906. ] was
not given my right to be heard on
F.! this question. SO vital to me and so
! tho Srbno1 svSten