Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-05-04
Montgomery County Schools.

HauSnt with tremendous Importance.
Within short time the County School
Board will take action with REGARD to the
position of County Superintendent as this
action binds US for the next four years,
during which time the new State School
Legislation will be put in operation, it is
easy to see that anything but constructive
work by a thoroughly equipped Superin-
tendent would be disastrous.
BY virtue of the position of MONTGOMERY
county, adjacent to Washington, and of the
quality and condition of her people we
stand next to Baltimore county in the
whole State as leader in public school
education. Our action at this time is
weighted with grave responsibility to the
whole State.
The position of School Superintendent
is by all odds the most important public
Office in the county. its influence is meal
culable; on no one person does the future
welfare Of our people to so great an extent
depend, certainly not on all the other
ofiiceholders of the county put together.
Surely then we ought to elevate this Office
Of Superintendent to the highest place in
the county in the matter of salary and by
securing the biggest possible man for the
place. To establish our school system at
this crisis on the basis Of an $500 Super
intendent, is nothing short of calamity.
By adding $500 from the county and $500
which the State allows, if we make this
addition, we raise the salary to $4,000.
This salary enables the county to select
from an entirely different grade Of men for
Superintendent than we could secure on
the smaller salary. The Federation of
Home and School Associations at their
meeting April 28th was unanimous that
this should be done. and that 1t was
matter of the first importance. also that
the School Board select the best available
man on this higher salary basis. A reso-
luton embodying these ideas was recon-
mended to their respectful consideration.
The Federation did not endorse any one
for this office. nor was any proposition
brought before the meeting to that effect
1t would be manifestly absurd for the
Federation to express an opinion on
such a matter without the information
which is not at its disposal. 1t left
that aspect of the situation to those
who can secure the information and are
entirely competent to make a wise decis-
ion, namely, our admirable School Board.
This say, partly, because it was published
in the Washington Times that we endorsed
a certain candidate: which we most as
suredly did not.
At this meeting we re-endorsed the
necessity Of elementary agricultural educa-
tion for all our school children. Apart
from the practical value of such knowledge,
it is essential to all in cities and country
as a matter of fundamental culture. The
production Of food and all connected there
with is not second to any interest in which
men Of business are engaged; but an in
telligent and Just appreciation of farming
is essential to the welfare of the nation.
Since the Civil War we have bent oil our
Governmental energies to foster manufac-
ture to the neglect of our agriculture. and
today we are reaping the fruits of this ill
proportioned policy in many and painful
ways. Our people must be taught that
the farm is the very foundation of the
nation and agriculture elevated to the
exalted place where it rightly belongs.
We re-endorsed the medical inspection
of the school children. To attempt to
educate unhealthy children. who can be
cured by treatment, is heartbreaklng job
for the teacher and an absurd waste of
good tax funds. Mrs. Rafter said, few
days ago in Washington. that 80 per cent.
of the Washington school children have
bad teeth. The amount Of money wasted
each year on children hindered by various
defects is alarming. and is. above all. a
crime against the child.
should like to say word in behalf Of
a new Office and officer in our school sys-
TEN. The amount of money saved by the
county since we have had a Truant Officer
would startle our taxpayers if they were
called upon for such an increase. The
amount of good done within my personal
observation would justify the expenditure.
The amount of missionary work by the
Truant Officer among the class that needs
such an officer cannot be paid for in dol
lars and cents; it Is doing wonders in
elevating these people to an entirely diff
ferent standard of citizenship. and we
shall reap the good fruits of this work in
the rising generation. Our county is blessed
in having in this Office Miss Mary Magru-
der. woman of such splendid character
and endowments that she has made the
office not merely a technical one in the
carrying out of the law. but she is our edu-
cational missionary far and wide through
out the county.
Education in its widest sense is the
foundation on which our whole life rests.
We are only beginning to appreciate its
importance. Surely we cannot remain
passive in the face Of the present oppOr-
tunity, but make every effort. and sacrifice
if need be. to 60 forward.
JAMES KIRKPATRICK.
Parsley -Anderson Wedding