Evening star., 1949-10-14
HearingsC|ose
On j. ). Burden
Upon Schools
Maryland Educators
Tell of Problem Due *
Employees Children


A House Education subcommit-
tee, considering Federal aid to
school areas overrun by Federal
Government employees, closed its
Washington hearings today with
the expressed conviction of at
least one member that something
must be done.
After hearing four Maryland
county school superintendent add
their woes to those of their Vir-
ginia counterparts. Representative
Werdel, Republican, of California
commented:
Il think we have an obligation
to provide immediate help for
these areas where the problem of
school overcrowding exists because
of Federal activities. We must
help the communities affected to
build the new schools they need
now. I think every member of
Congress would agree with that"
1t was plain that Mr.. Werdel's
fellow committeeman agreed with
him. Now they will embark on a
nationwide field trip to study the
problem at first hand in other
areas where Federal workers (and
their children are heavily con-
centrated-as they are in the
Washington area.
Extent of Aid Only Question.
Mr.. Werdel said the only real
question is how far the Govern
ment should 60 in helping ad-
minister the aid it provides, and
how long it should continue to
provide it.
Representative Sasscer, Demo-
crat. of Maryland. appeared
briefly before the committee this
morning to urge that whatever
help is provided should be on a
temporary basis. The Govern
ment, he said should not become
permanently involved in the local
education picture.
Montgomery County Supt. Ed
win w. Broome told the subcom-
mittee that 40 per cent of the
county's $4,000 pupils probably
are the children of Federal
workers.
He said the county loses about
$2,300,000 in taxes on Federally
owned property in the county.
Such property is tax exempt.
Shugart Statement Heard.
For Prince Georges County,
Supt. G. Gardner Shugart report
ed in a prepared statement that
he thought more than 80 per cent
of his county's school enrolment
was due to Federal Government
activities. He said the county was
270 classrooms short, and was
using a double shift system, tenn
porary classrooms, diversified classes
and other devices in an effort to
relieve the squeeze.
Mr.. Shugart said Prince Georges,
which has $4,000 acres of tax
exempt Government land. has
foated $6,0O0.000 in bond issues
since the war to provide new
school buildings.
He recommended that the Fed
eral Government pay the per-
pupil cost of educating children
of it's employees who live on tax
free Government reservations.
Broome Less Specific.
Mr.. Broome was less specific
In his recommendations. urging
only that the Government should
clearly recognize its obligations to
help out such situations on a con-
tinuing basis.
Worse than the situation in the
nearby counties was that pictured
for Anne Arundel and Hartford
Counties, both of which contain
large Government reservations
which send many children to the
public schools-children whose
parents pay no local taxes.
David S. jenkins, Anne Arundel
superintendent, told the commit
tee his county had 416 children
who live on reservations and at
tend county schools.
The problem is long continu-
ing one. Mr.. jenkins pointed out,
since the Naval Academy was
established in 1845 and Fort
George G. Meade dates from
World War I. All of the county's
eight Government reservations
were in existence before 1925.
Hartford Official Reports.
M jenkins said the Govern
ment each year should add 10 per
cent of the tuition paid for chill
dren living on reservations to
fund which help amortize and pay
interest on the county's bonded
debt for new school construction.
Supt. Charles w. Willis, fepor(-
ing for Hartford, declared:
Our schools are hopelessly
overcrowded."
"A great portion of our in
creased school population comes
from Federal housing projects on
which the Government pays
fixed sum in lieu of taxes. This
sum does not begin to pay the
actual cost of the education of the
children living on these projects.
SAR 10 Hold Hiuh School