Evening star., 1920-06-17
CITIZENS APPEALS
MAY INDUCE BOARD
/. TO KEEP THURSTON
PetWorth Petition Creates
F Favorable Impression at
Board Meeting.

Supt. Thurston still has a chance
to be retained at the head Of the Dis
trict public school system despite the
determination of the board of educa
ton to oust him on June 80.
Recent appeals by civic organiza-
tons have had a tendency to impress
the board members with the extent
OF pubic sentiment in favor of Mr.
Ihurstons retention, and indicatio MS
today were that the school governing
body may reconsider it's action.
Dr- John Van Schaick, jr.. president
OF the school board gave the first in
tlmatlon that the subject of re-elect-
ing Mr.. Thurston would again be con-
sldered, at meeting yesterday of the
school governing body, when Jesse {.
Suter, chairman of a committee of five
representatives of the Petworth Cit
lzens Association. presented petit
lon urging the retention of the Su-
perintendent
Mr.. Suter. in presenting the petit
ton. expressed the opinion that the
board underestimated the extent Of
public sentiment in favor of retaining
Mr.. Tburston, and appealed to the
mem berS to preserve the present
status of the school system
! Il know it is hard to back down
in face of opposition" Mr.. Suter told
I the board. But to do so would create
a favorable impression in the District
F! Now is the time for the board to re-
! deem itself"
Reply to DIR. Van Schaick.
In reply. DIR. Van Schaick said that
/ the petition was framed in a different
/ spirit from many he had received. and
that it should be given very respect
ful consideration by the board" and
| rs far as he was concerned 1T would
receive it.
Suter stated that while we recognize
the full legal right of the board to
| elect another superintendent. and while
| we accord to the members of the board
| full credit for honesty of purpose, still
we feel that. in the light of the senti-
ment and desire of the community the
board should in the spirit of true democ-
racy. recede from its position and
continue Mr.. Thurston in Office, at
least until such time as Congress
shall have opportunity to act"
The committee headed by Mr.. Suter
was composed of Horace J. Phelps,
l.. T. Dewey. w. c. Duvall and G. NJ.
Hill.
Bruce Case Revived.
The case of Roscoe c. Bruce assist
ant superintendent of colored schools.
was revived at the meeting. when
member of the Parents League pre-
sented resolution demanding his
imm ediate removal from office.
DIR. Van Schaick said that the mat
ter should be referred to Supt. Thurs
ton. The superintendent explained
that the board had seen fit to take
the Bruce matter into its own hands
without regard for the prerogatives
of the superintendent" and that it
would have to act on the case. DR..
Van Schaick then, in order to avoid
public action by the board announced
| a
up at a private conference in the
future.
Immediately DR.. c. NJ. Tanner of
the Parents League arose and in
quired as to what had become of
similar resolution sent to DR.. Van
Schaick. The school board head denied
that he had received the resolution.
Parents League Resolution.
The resolution presented by the
Parents League not only demanded
the immediate removal from office OF
Assistant Superintendent Bruce, but
deplored the action of the two colored
members of the board-Mrs. Coralie
F. Cook and DIR. j. Hayden Johnson
in opposing the reelection of Nh
Thurston. 1t pointed out that these
two members defeated the expressed
wishes of not only the colored citi-
zens, but the great majority of white
citizens also"
The resolution stated further that
the league would wage a compaign
gainst DR.. Van Schaick continuing a
member of the board on the ground
that he is not bona fide resident of
the District and under the law should
reside in Washington five years be-
fore being eligible to appointment to
a public Office.
resolution urging the reelection
of Mr.. Thurston and the reconsidera-
ton of the resignation of Miss Lucy
nj a
NAL School, was presented to the
board by member of the Central
Northwest Citizens Association. The
resolution was adopted by that or
ganiza ton at meeting last Friday.
| 1t was referred for future action.
Changes in personnel approved fol-
| low:
| Temporary appointments ended
Miss ]. L. Harris. teacher. class GA,
Dunbar High: w. r. Wilkes. teacher,
teacher. class GA. Dunbar High; Grace
Coleman, teacher, class ga. Dunbar
| High; Madeline Sheppard. teacher,
class ga. Dunbar High; G. E. n. Toll
! yer. teacher. class GA. Dunbar High;
| Vivian Cook. teacher. class GA. Dun
Armstrong High; H. B. Wallace,
| teacher, class GA, Armstrong High,
| and 1. N. Miller. teacher, class ga.
Armstrong High
| PROBATIONARY, maze permanent
| Miss G. c. Fearing, teacher, class GA
Dunbar High; Mrs. G. S. Garfield,
| teacher, second grade, Morgan; Miss
! Marion Rebuschatis. teacher. first
| grade, Park View; Miss ]. E. Wallace.
| teacher. second grade, Brightwood
| Park; Miss E. A. Hanft, teacher. third
grade. H. D. Cooke; P. E. Thiesfeldt,
| teacher, first grade, Force: A. r. Var
nell. teacher, second grade. Dennison;
| Eloise Mace teacher, third grade. Ad-
Olson; N c. Harrington. teacher. second
| grade. Reservoir School; E. r. Her
ron. teacher, third grade. Gage School;
NJ. E. Mangum. teacher. second grade.
Gage; A N. Thrasher. teacher. third
grade, Gage School; H. D. Wise, teach :
er. second grade, Cleveland; g. M:
| Driscon. teacher. first grade, Hayes:
Mrs. L. NJ Bergwold. teacher. third
grade. Grant; Mrs l. N; Mt, Ihaden. adj n
Mrs q L. Beavers, teacher. third
grade. Tyler: Miss e. H. Johnson y,
teacher, third grade: cranch' and @ !; C.
Sibert teacher, first grade, Cranch.
Misce1laneous actions-Make proba-