Evening star., 1948-06-16
Board Majority
Backs Slash for
County Schools
Montgomery Heads
PoIIed After 1000
Hear Cut Protested

bIS0u ~0t ! tOASStC0
A majority of the five Montgomery
County commissioners still favors
County Supervisor Irving G. Nc
Nayr's recommendation to give the
Board of Education $544,501 less
than it had requested. despite de-
mands to the contrary at a public
hearing last night.
After the hearing. three commits
sioners told The Star in an informal
poll they would support Mr.. McNayr
and would oppose any increase in
the tax rate.
The fourth commissioner said he
would be willing to compromise,
while the fifth left before he could
be questioned. The four board mem
bers polled said decision probably
would not be made for about week.
Under the law, the commissioners
have until June 30 to sign the
budget.
1000 Jam Gymnasium .
Nearly 1000 county residents
jammed the Richard Montgomery
High School gymnasium in Rock
vile for four hours last night to
hear more than a score of speakers
demand approval of the Board of
Education's record request for So
429 1863 during the coming fiscal
year.
The hearing was shifted from the
Rockville Courthouse, but even so
about 200 persons were forced to
stand along the sides and rear of
the gymnasium and in the corridor.
Although the hearing was called
to obtain public opinion on all items
in the proposed $6,251, ,633 budget,
which provides for scent increase
in the $l.88 county tax rate, 1t soon
became evident that practically all
who attended had come to discuss
the school appropriation.
Clark Interrupted.
After several speakers urged the
Commissioners to increase health
and police funds, cries of What
about teacher salaries?" interrupted
R. Duncan Clark, Bethesda, as he
was summing up the case for police
raises.
Spearheading the fight for the
full budget requested by the Board
of Education were four representa-
tives of the County Council OF
Parent Teacher Associations.
Harlan Hadley, member of the
councils Executive Committee,
made clear the stand of School
Board supporters when he de-
clared:
THE Board of Education budget
assumes that county citizens want
better than average schools"
From Howard Johnson, also rep
senting the council, came the warn
ing that "if the school budget Is
cut. guidance work will be elini-
mated and little if any individual
work will be done with pupils"
McNayr Backs His Stand.
At this point, Mr.. McNayr took
the floor to support his recommen-
dation.
For three years." he told the au-
dience, II have heard of low teacher
salaries. Most of you tonight have
been presented with a list of teach
ers and their present salaries, show
ing the average teacher salary is
So, ,569.44.
THE ridiculous talk about kinder
gartens, music, supervisory and 9th.
er school programs being cut If my
recommendation is approved Is alb
solutely unnecessary. These pro-
grams were put into practice when
salaries for teachers we're far lower
than they are now and they were
kept when nothing was done about
teacher salaries"
He expressed doubt whether those
present represented all county resi-
dents and asked:
Are the citizens capable Of back
ing program which would add 50
cents to the tax rate?"
He was greeted by jeers when
he said teachers don't work eight
hours a day, six days a week like
policemen"
Some Oppose Request.
Brooke Johns, president of the
Board Of County Commissioners,
told tAe crowd:
I'VE are willing to give you people
the things you want If you have the
intestinal fortitude to stand up and
tell us If you're willing to pay higher
taxes"
Most of the 1000 persons there
stood up in response to Mr.. Johns
request. But when he asked all
teachers present to stand he en-
countered chorus of noes" e
The hearing was not entirely one
sided, however. There was opposi-
ton to the School~Boards full re-
quest from John r. Reeves, a men,
ber of the county's legislative dele
cation; w. Lawson King, Gathers
burg, and Basil Mobley, Derwood.
both dairy farmers; James D. King,
president of the Farm Bureau, and
percv T. Greavos petbeedo