Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-07-16
Facts Brought To Light.


of the late controversy between Kensing-
ton and Chevy Chase that in all fairness
to the friends and advocates of the Chevy
Chase high school should be brought into
the light.
The first is that Kensington, through its
school organization, in May, 1913. Joined
with Bethesda and Chevy Chase, acting
through their respective school organiza-
tons, in the launching of the movement
for the development of high school, in
connection with the Chevy Chase school, in
the vicinity of Bradley Lane and between
the two car lines. Mr.. W. P. Hay was one
of the Kensington representatives at this
conference, at which the above was unani-
mously agreed upon. but has neglected to
make any mention of it.
If the Kensington school organization
ever disavOwed this arrangement or under
standing with Chevy Chase, no notice
thereof was ever received.
What possible purpose is served by ques-
tionine the existence of definite agree
ment that the four portable units and COM
municating structure, provided by Chevy
Chase citizens for their school building in
September. 1918, are to be the property of
the school board when the rental pay
ments have covered its cost There never
has been any other arrangement or under
standing.
The same alleged illegality urged against
the Chevy Chase high school it seems
might be urged with equal force against
other high schools in the county, but Mr.
Hay does not disclose this in his published
statement. Is there any reason for urging
against Chevy Chase alone what should
be urged against other schools as we'll
If there be sound ground for the alleged
legal objections2
Is it not transcending the limits of even
ordinary meanness to seek to defeat on the
merest technical ground the reasonable pro-
vision of the school board for the natural
growth and legitimate needs of the Chevy
Chase school after the original structure has
been provided at private expense and on
grounds loaned to the county practically free
of charge Zone dollar per year y. and this in
a district which more than any other rep
resents the material development and
progress of the county? The additional
unit which the school board is charged
with having erected" on land not belong
ing to the county. was occupied in part by
the 7th grade last year. and the $500
expense therefor to the county represents
the only expenditure for a county school
building in the Chevy Chase section since
the former one-teacher school there was
discontinued, in 1902, and the proceeds of
donated land and $1,000 of private funds
in the building turned into the county
treasury.
OF the school boards estimate of 5000
(nOw reduced to $l620 by the State aid of
$4,000 for high school instruction at Chevy
Chase, Mr.. Hay says, "all of which will
fall upon the county" Is Bethesda dis.
trict. showing as it has for many years
past constant large annual increase in
tax valuations-$269,00 increase last
year. and $3l9, 900 this year, nearly half
the total increase of the county--to be
seriously regarded as imposing upon the
county in seeking $l620, or even 5000,
for hgh-school instruction for its children
Bethesda district does not ask for one
quarter of the school funds annually
though it pays that or nearly that in school
taxes. All ii asks is common justice.
A large portion of the time used by the
opponents Of Chevy Chase" before the
County Commissioners at the June % hear
ing was devoted to showing how nearly all
the prospective students for the high school
department for next year could 80 to d. C.
high schools. and the rest TO Rockville. Is
Montgomery county to systematically zen
courage" any of its citizens and taxpayers
to become patrons of the school system of
the District of Columbia. and continue to
tax them for educational facilities denied
them and even unfairly taken from them
Have we County Commissioners willing to
regard as argument" for the discontinue
ance of county school facilities the con-
tention that the majority of the children
affected can 90 to the d. C. schools All
honor to Commissioners Bradley and Lewis
who are reported to have been unable 10
see either fairness or justice or sound bust
ness sense in choking off any public school
privileges of Bethesda district.
Mr.. Hay, teacher in Washington high
school. has apparently no word Of com
mendation for the county schools. Unlike
Mr.. Hay, who seemed amazed. at the June
% hearing that any one who could do so
should not want to send his children to the
d. C. schools many Of us. even in Chevy
Chase" want to stay with our home school
system, to help build it up and improve on
the good points we see in it.
II the Kensington Home and School AS
ISOLATION has any definite plan for the inn
provement Of the county elementary
schools, we shall be glad to hear what is
proposed. But il was asking good deal
TO urge that further high school facilities
be denied in the county upon mere hope
or expectation that the elementary schools
could attain shortly so high standard Of
excellence as to place them above all
criticism.
EUGENE F.. STEVENS.
Otterb0urne, July ., 1915.