Evening star., 1948-06-11
Education Association
Hits Proposed Cut for
Montgomery Schools

lie montgomery GUuIlLy EQuCd-
ton Association today added its
voice to the growing protest against
the proposed $544,501 slash in the
Board of Education's 1948-9 budget.
The association is composed of
teachers and school administration
personnel.
The association. at special meet
ing last night in Leland Junior High
School, Chevy Chase, said the pro-
posed cuts have caused widespread
CONSERVATION, Encouragement and
resentment" among the teachers.
The statement was contained IN
a letter to the county commissioners
from Mrs. Elizabeth c. Macdonald,
president of the association.
Budget Only Minimum.
"We know, as professional workers
in the field, that the 3,429 1863
budget request of the Board OF Edu-
cation is realistic and necessary"
Mrs. Macdonald said. 1--WE know
that the budget requests would pro-
vide for only a minimum program
of education in county which has
one of the highest standards OF nv
ing and cost of living levels in the
United States.
I'VE know that it has been proven
beyond doubt that business pros
perity and real estate values are
dependent upon the quality OF the
educational program"
Declaring the countys educational
svstem has won national recogni-
ton. Mrs. Macdonald warned the
system could not continue at lts
present high level without adequate
financial support. She pointed out
that because of inadequate FUNDS
last year, only 80 per cent OF the
teachers were placed on the new
salary schedule approved by the
County Commissioners. ,
She said the budget recommended
by County Supervisor Irving G. NC
Navr last week would not permit the
remaining 10 per cent OF the teach
ers to be placed on the new salary
schedules this year.
I'VE know that inadequate physi-
cal facilities together with increased
enrolment will exert tremendous
additional demands upon the time
and energies of all teachers during
next year" she said.
1T is altogether unreasonable to
believe that teachers should carry
this load and at the same time nos
be compensated in the manner
which they have been led to expect" "
Finally, Mrs. Macdonald charged
that failure by the county commits
sioners to approve the Board Of
Educations proposed budget would
constitute definite breach OF
faith to the children of the county,
their parents and their teachers"
Mrs. Nolte Hits Slash.
Mrs. Walter Nolte. chairman OF
the County Committee for Unmet
Needs OF Exceptional Children,
meanwhile declared that the pro-
posed cut would destroy hope of an
adequate program for handicapped
children and seriously hamper the
overall program for all children In
the county school system.
She noted that in acting on rec
concentrations of the committee,
the Board of Education had in
cluded in it's budget the "barest"
funds to include psychologist. give
special tests to determine educa-
tional needs, and to increase per-
sonnel to provide for more indi-
vidualized instruction where needed
Yesterday. Commissioners Oliver
w. Youngblood and Wesley I.
Sauter proposed establishment of
double shifts in county schools to
relieve overcroWding.
They said the plan would elm
inate the need for new school con-
struction. double the capacity Of
existing school buildings, and reduce
the number of pupils per teacher.