Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-02-16
"PoIitics Add County Schools"

IF reports are true, Governor Goldsbo
rough believes that four republican schoo
commissioners are as well qualified to keel
the schools of this county out of politics a:
four democratic commissioners. Also, il
is said, that County Superintendent Woo
has the promise of enough votes to re-elect
him at the expiration of his term next
August. Mr.. Wood has made capable
superintendent and the county schools
have improved under his supervision, and
we don't mind saying that the republicans
should not put a less competent man In
his place. At the time of Mr.. Woods cleo
ton as superintendent he was backed by
petition signed by 80 per cent. of the
teachers of this county, and large ma
jority of the teachers are reported as fav-
Oring his retention at this time. II is also
fact that in all the years the democrats
have been in power in this state they have
shown scant courtesy to republicans, when
1t comes to naming them for office. and
this is hardly time to expect republicans
to voluntarily turn over few places to
their political opponents"
Taken in connection with the statement,
made in another column of the same issue
I of your contemporary, to the effect that its
editor had just returned from visit to the
new Governor at Annapolis, the revelations
contained in this editorial are all the more
interesting.
1t should be recalled that the Republican
platform professed great concern for the
welfare of the public schools. Also that
Governor Goldsborough, in his canvass last
fall, inveighed against the idea of political
considerations being permitted to enter,
even in the most remote degree. into mat
tiers of school administration. He strongly
contended for the merit system In re-
Spouse to his criticism of alleged violations
by the Democratic administration in some
counties of his high standard in this regard,
there arose in the Republican meeting at
Sandy Spring one of the leading citizens
Of this county. lifelong member Of the
Republican party and member Of the
County School Board, and informed Mr..
Goldsborough that his criticism could not
with justice apply to the public school ad-
minstration in Montgomery. where the
merit system COMFORTS with the ideas and
sentiment of its citizenship.
Governor Goldsboroueh was elected upon
a platform thus made unequivocal by his
own Interpretation. The responsibility for
carrying out this platform is on him and on
his party in every portion of the State
The Democratic members of the General
Assembly RETAINED from exercising their
power to put through bill before his in
auguration taking from him the power to
appoint school commissioners and, through
said appOintees, to remove the county su-
perintendents from office.
the present county school superintendent
was appointed in response to "a petition
signed by 80 per cent. of the teachers in
this county" that "a large majority of the
teachers are reported as favoring his re-
tention at this time" that he has made
capable superintendent" and that the
county schools have improved under his
supervision" yet. nevertheless. says the
Editor of the Press, I'VE don't mind saying
that the republicans should not put less
competent man in his place. y = 1t
is also a fact that in all the years the
democrats have been in power in this state
they have shown scant courtesy to repub-
licans, when it comes to naming them for
Office. and this is hardly the time to expect
republicans to voluntarily turn over few
places to their political opponents.
In other words the kind of merit system
in schools our Republican friends have
been talking about involved the prompt
removal of the trained superintendent
throughout the State. beginning with SD
perintendent Earle B. Wood, whose efficient
and progressive administration of the school
system of this county has been recognized
by the educators of the entire State by his
elevation last summer as the present Presi-
dent of the State Teachers Association
and thus give notice to every school super
intendent in the State. many of whom have
devoted years of study at Columbia. Johns
HOPKINS and other leading universities Of
the country in fitting themselves for their
present duties as life work. that in Mary
land. at least, they must make room for
some hungry Republican Office seeker whom
the editor of the Press may consider no
less competent man." Such well equipped
young men as Superintendents Cook. of
Baltimore county; Nobb. of Caroline coun-
ty; 0ran, of Talbot county; Grimes, of
Queen Anne county Holloway, of Wicom-
leo county. and number of older. though
highly successful county superintendents.
must all 90 in order to make places for
men. for the most part. without experience
or special training.
1t will be interesting to see if the editor
Of the Press correctly portrays the school
policy of the new State administration.
NONPARTISAN.