Evening star., 1920-03-21
.THURSTON LACKS
ASEXECUTVE, SAY
BOARD MEMBERS
Mrs. Gerry and Mrs. Cook
Cite Bruce and Miss Wood
Cases to Senators.

an administrative officer were made
before the Senate select committed
investigating the school system by
Mrs. NJ. S. Gerry and Mrs. Caraiie +
Cook. both members OF the board oi
education. at hearing yesterday aft
eFnoon.
Mrs. Gerry charged that she had re-
peatedly asked Mr.. Thurston what
he thought about Assistant Supt
Bruce OF the colored schools, whe
had been attacked. and that she never
could get him 10 sive an opinion. Yet
when Mr.. TEurston made his recent
pUoiic reply to the board of educa-
tioD he mad spoken disparingly o.
Bruce.
She insisted that he should have
either supported Bruce or recommend
ed his dismissal io2G ago.
Mrs. Gerry sad that -Ar- WhurstoI
had been iukewarIn toward progre3
sive movements IN the schools. includ
ing the Americani2ation schools anf
the junior high school, although n.
appeared to be claiming credit fol
them now.
Mrs. Cook declared that had Mr.
Thurston taken q firm grip" Of the
case OF Miss Alice l. Wood, accused
of teaching boishevism. it could have
been dealt with effectively in an ad-
minisJrative way, instead of by the
board, to whom the superintendent
had left 1t.
Resume Hearings Tomorrow.
The hearings will be resumed to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock, with
Mrs. Gerry on the stand. She said
that she had more CRITICISMS to make
r.f
Discussing the subject Of appro-
priations for the colored schools In
Washington, Mrs. Cook deplored the
fact that they are not more adequate
She referred the committee to the
old law of 1864 regarding expendi-
lures for the colored schools. This
law provided that the appropriations
for white and colored schools IN
Washington and Georgetown should
be made on the basis of school popu-
lation. This is the plan which Mrs
Cook Is now advocating as the only
fair method Of dealing with the col
ored schools.
ed schools been fair?" asked Senator
Capper of Kansas.
"The ailotments have not been made
according to school population. re-
piled Mrs. Cook.
How far have they failed in this
respect?'
ITO q very wide extent" said Mrs
Cook. TN the matter of appropria'
tons for school buildings and teach
ers' salaries there has been a wide
discrepancy"
lis the board Of education respon.
sible for this?" asked Senator Capper
Mrs. Cook pointed out that the
board makes the estimates for thu
schools, and that they are then passeG
upon by the District Commissioners
who have frequently amended the es'
Inmates.
Colored Schools C0mplain.
There has been very great complaint
on the ground that the colored school.
have not received as much as they
should" she said. There is still bitteI
complaint"
'Did DR.. Learned ever recommend t.
the board of education that Charlotte
Hunter be discharged" asked Senator
Harrison Of Mississippi. reverting to the
Moens case.
II am sure he did not"
did you ask that the board delay
action in the case OF Charlotte Hunter?'
"No"
you have criticised Mr.. Thurston be-
cause Of the failure to put the two pla.
toon system In a colored school," con-
tinued Senator Harrison.
Mrs. Cook said that. in her opinion
Mr.. Thurston had not provided tn,
time.
Are there any other Incident
which you consider indicate that Mr.
Thurston was slow and indecisive?"
Il have brought no bill Of particu
lars against Mr.. Thurston," said Mrs
not accept our suggestion, containe,
in the letter members OF the boar,
sent him regarding his reelection"
Had he done so, he would hav'
been out now" said Senator Harri
mo. he could have obtained othe
employment. or he could have come t.
to say. as well as he could have gon
to the public. I regret that he di,
not. We would have been glad t
consider anything he desired to say"
Cites Loss Of Personnel.
Pressed for other reasons why sh,
thought Mr.. Thurston not fitted TO
superintendent of schools, Mrs. Cool
said that valuable persons lad beef
lost to the school system who woult
stronger leadership. She mentione,
the cases Of Dr. Small in the whit,
schools and E. C. Williams, who q,
principal of the M Street High School
When the latter left the schools h,
became librarian at Howard Univer
sity. at less salary than when h,
was principal Of the high school, Mrs
Cook thought.
Mr.. Williams told me that he di,
not think he had been properly backet
up by Mr.. Thurston." she said.
Senator Harrison asked Mrs. Cool
Of the committee which investigates
the case Of Miss Alice Wood, charge,
with teaching bolsh.vism in th'
schools.
The witness said the report ha,
been made in an informal manne
er there was a formal vote.
II was much puzzled: the repor
did not seem to be definite" said Mrs
Cook. II believe strongly in Ameri
canization in the schools. and 1t wa
not clear to me what the committee
had found"
Were the unions active in tina
case?" asked Senator Harrison. Mrs
Cook replied that they were and tha
Miss Wood was a member Of a union
They did not come after me-" SAT-
Mrs. Cook. II believe that teacher
should be permitted to have unions
have never made up my mind as t
anlliate with the American Federation
of Labor"
| "You thought that perhaps II the,
did they might teach the pupils tn
doctrines OF the Federation OF Labor?
| mo, my reason Is more selfish. hav
thought that it might not be profes
sona!" Mrs. Cook said that conserva
tive members OF the board had believe
that. in war times. It was best to
on the safe side in this case. 'It wa
not TIM to rock the boat" she said.
Reads Misa Wood Charges.
| Senator Harrison read from tho re
port of the investigating committee tn
charges which had been made agains
Miss Wood. in which she was made {
appear favorable to bolshevism. One {
the charges was to the effect that Mis-
Wood had said. There is no more reaso