The Washington times., 1920-04-09
CLASHES MARK
SCHOOL PROBE
Van Sohaick Demands Claque
Keep Quiet at Senate Com
mittee Hearing.
INSISTS ON "WHOLE STORY"
Thurston Declares Board Presi-
dent Determined to "ThroW
Him Out" From First.
INSISTS ON "WHoLE STORY"

Sharp clashes between Superin-
tendent Of Schools Thurston, on the
witness stand, and Dr.. Van Schaick
marked the school hearing before the
Senate INVESTIGATING subcommittee
today.
snake him tell the whole story"
shouted Van Schaick to Senator
Harrison st one stage Of the proceed
ings. y
A laugh among the audience"
followed and Van Schaick wheeled
around on them with blazing eyes
and said:
II wish the clicque here would keep
quiet"
This followed an accusation by
Thurston that at the meeting or the
Board OF Education last wednesday
Van Schaick had practically ignored
him on educational matters.
II was with reference to q new de-
batting system, the plan having been
drawn up by Van Schaick and adopted
uniformly by the board. in confer
ence, before Thurston and The high
school principals had had q chance to
examine It.
This drew FIRE from Van Schaick.
as did the general tenor of Thurston's
testimony about him.
T always have believed DR.. Van
Schaick came on the board with the
expressed purpose of throwing me
OUT said the superintendent.
ASK him what my motives could
have BEEN" said Van Schaick to Sem
ator Harrison.
"Well, believe that Is a complex
matter" said Thurston. my case was
bound up with that of certain MEM
bers of the Board of Education
friendly to me who had fought Com
missioner Newman on the question
Of District Commissioners taking con-
troll Of the public schools. Newman
wanted me removed. I never have
had any doubt about that"
Believes People With Him.
II believe that I have the confidence
people of Washington, and know
that I have the confidence of the
overwhelming majority OF the
teachers.
"I do not think that I have had a
fair show with this board since Van
Schaick came upon 1t. OF course,
some members have supported me
splendidly."
Thurston said he had not been able
to work while with the board since
DR.. Van Schaick was appointed.
',rhe elimination of members of
force and administrative capacity has
been most unfortunate" he said. "It
has been a great loss to the system"
Thurston- said he believed in the
election of the Board of Education
by the people. II suffrage were i'm
possible, he then believes that the
members OF the board should be APP
pointed by the President of the United
States, subject to confirmation by the
Senate.
Between nomination by the Dis
trict Supreme Court and the District
Conmissloners there was little choice
in his mind, he added. He said 1t
depended largely upon personnel and
changes In local conditions.
Explains Stand In Bruce Case.
Upon the Bruce case Thurston made
the following statement:
Rightly or wrongly Bruce does
not have the confidence of a large
section OF the com .nunity. A large
part OF the teaching force under him
is against him."
He added that II he were in Bruce's
position. he would get out" He
said, however, that IL he were given
free hand, he would not dismiss
Bruce, because he recognized that the
latter had many admirable qualities.
He stated that he would like to
have absolute control OF the Bruce
case for a while, to see az could not
iron matters out. II failed in that,
then l would think my next duty
would be to recommend his dis
charge"
with some feeling, Thurston de-
scribed the kind of fight that had
been made upon him.
II cannot go anywhere in this town
today without having lots OF people,
| whom i have never met, come TO me
and shake me by the hand and assure