Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-10-08
Changes Id the Road and School
SyStems Cor sidered.

The Citizens Association of Bethesda
Maryland, met on the evening of the 4tf
instant in regular session. Among the
matters considered was a proposition Of
the Goshen Farmers Club to change the
Road Laws of the State The movement
was favorably received, and an instruction
to the Committee on Highways was agreed
upon that a subcommittee be appointed
to confer with the Farmers Club, and join
in an effort to amend the laws, but pro-
vidine that such amendment must provide
for the election of road officials, instead of
their appointment, and that otherwise this
association could not support the amend
ment.
Mr.. Reubsam, Chairman of the Special
Committee on Amendment to the School
Laws, made report of progress, that copies
OF the proposed law were being mailed to
the officials and teachers of the schools in
the different districts, and conferences with
the candidates for legislative offices would
be arranged for. If possible, and secure
their support for the amendment, or. at
least, secure an expression of opinion fav-
orable or unfavorable thereto.
Mr.. w. L. Chitty, Secretary of the Spe-
cial Committee. made the following state
ment of the distinctive features of the
proposed amendment to the School Law
which are changes from the present law -
l. A District Board of Trustees is pro-
vided for, which is elected directly by the
people of the district. and is representa-
tive of each established school in the dis
trict.
2. Complete power in each board over
school funds and property within its dis
trict; assessments for school purposes and
fhs.n v1xN1n 81
subject to the equalization of assessments
and school facilities by the County Board.
8. A County Board which is representa-
tive of all districts, being constituted, ex-
officio. of the Presidents Of the several Dis
trict Boards.
a. Supervision and control subject to
the State Board, by such County Board of
courses of instruction, of choice, purchase
and distribution of text books and of high
schools. and qualifications of teachers, with
equality of assessments, ETC., as above
stated.
S. The legal right of each child to re-
ceiye and the legal duty of each District
Board to furnish all needed school facilities
for its proper education a right and duty
which are enforceable by law, either by
the County Board or by the courts in the
last recourse.
6. Eligibility of women as School Trus-
tees or as County Superintendent.
By the present law the single school
power Is in the County Board, appointed
by the Governor, with no political account
ability of such board to the people either
of the county or of the district whose pro-
perty they tax and over whose children they
exercise their authority. They alone as
sess the property of the county, subject to
by the County Commissioners
when over a certain limit. and distribute
the proceeds In whatever part of the coun-
ty they see fit. They appoint all assistant
and confirm appointments by Dis
trict Boards of principal teachers, and dis
charge or may coerce the discharge of any
teacher They thus, in final analysis, CON
troll absolutely all school matters, without
regard to the wishes of. and without re-
sponsibility to. the people of the county,
and much less of the districts.
The proposed law differs from the pre-
sent law in allowing the people of each
district to choose their own school officials,
who assess their property, to spend their
school taxes within their own district fur
nish their children the school facilities
needed. and choose their own teachers.
with direct accountability for all their off
cial acts to the people who elect them.
The present law fixing salaries is not
affected: the District Board fixing such
salaries only as are not specifically fixed
by law. Their school taxes are spent at
home, except where the County Board, act
ing as a representative legislative assem-
bly,. votes a general county tax to equaliZe
school facilities.
Matters and courses of instruction are
not affected: teachers being appointed only
from those determined by the county Board
to be legally qualified. and all instruction
being subject to the County Board. acting
under the State Board and the general law.
While women may not vote, it is believ-
ed, without a constitutional amendment.
they may at least, by legislative authority,
be eligible to hold Office, as herein provided.
This measure sets forth no new, novel
or untried scheme. The laws of all the
forty-six States have been examined. OF
these thirty-seven now elect, by direct vote,
the local District Boards. In four others.
such boards are appointed by elected county
representatives. either County Board, as
in Florida and West Virginia, or County
as in Alabama, or County
Board elected by the Grand Jury. as in
Georgia; thus making forty-one States in
which the local District Boards are elective
or through elect county represen-
"home rule.
In marked contrast are the five remain
ing States, North and South Carolina, Louis
lana, Virginia and Maryland. In all these
the local boards receive appointment from
a county board appointed by some general
State authority. the Governor, or the State
Board, in part ex-officio and in part APP
pointive, or the General Assembly, as in
North Carolina.
As to county school officials. thirty-six
States elect either County Board. or
County Superintendent. or both three
States partly elect and partly appoint such
officials, and seven States appoint them
wholly. by some State official. -Governor.
State Board. or State Superintendent.
On motion, it was agreed that an adj
journed meeting should be held at the call
Of the president. to hear the report of the
special committee as to the stand taken
by the candidates respecting the proposed
to the school law. so that the
association members may be advised in
that regard before the election in Novem-
ber
S. w. BRIGGS,
Chairman Press Committee