Evening star., 1951-02-21
Montgomery Groups
Favor Proposal for
Elected School Board
By q stoff Correspondent of The s,ur

/ ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 21.-Mont-
gomery County organizations in
terested in schools agree on the
merits of an elected school board,
but they differ sharply over the
ability of the present school
officials
This was made clear at hear
| ing before the House Education
Committee yesterday on Mont
gomery delegation bill providing
for non-partisan elections of a
school board, subject to referen-
dunn.
Board members now are ap-
pointed by the Governor on
recommendation of the State CEN
tral committee of the party in
power.
A charge that many children
are not getting a good education
because of the policies of Supt.
of Schools Edwin w. Broome was
made by John H. Hiser. president
of the Parents League for Cur
riculum improvement.
Mr.. Hiser claimed there is in
sufficient emphasis on the "funda-
nentals of learning" such as the
three R's-reading, writing and
arithmetic.
Qualifications Questioned.
He was supported by Mrs.
Robert Sherwin, also of the
league, who expressed doubt that
DR.. Broome is a top-f1ight educa-
! tor"
II don't believe we have an
outstanding superintendent of
schools" she declared. IF the
people could elect their school
board. I feel confident we would
see a drastic change in our edu-
cational system
DR.. Broome was defended
strongly by Mrs. Maurice Jansky,
representing the Bethesda Chevy
Chase branch, American Associa-
ton of University Women.
Mrs. Jansky contended that "as
whole, parents in Montgomery
County are satisfied with DR..
Broome's administration" She
argued that the League repre-
sents a minority of parents.
| The hearing also was marked
by demands from representatives
of rural groups that their areas
be assured of representation on
an elected board.
They indorsed an amendment
proposed by Mrs. Leona M.
Rush, Republican, of Montgomery
County, to have five of the seven
board members elected from each
of the five council districts, with
the remaining two elected at
large. The bill originally called
for all seven to be elected at large.
Rural Leaders Concerned.
Rural leaders. including w. F.
Sickle, Farm Bureau president,
expressed the fear that unless the
amendment is approved the board
might be controlled by members
elected from the thickly populated
Silver Spring and Bethesda areas.
They also urged relaxation of a
provision specifying that School
Board candidates be nominated by
petitions bearing at least 500 sig
natures.
| Mr.. Sickle said it would be
very difficult to get that many sig
natures in some sparSely settled
rural districts.
Spokesman for supporters of the
bill was Leslie M. Able, of the
County Council of Parent Teacher
Associations, which he said has
about $4,000 members.
DIR. Pullen Attacked.
He attacked DR.. Thomas G. Pull
len, jr., State superintendent of
schools. for opposing the bill.
I'VE admire DR.. Pullen's pro-
fessional ability" Mr.. Able as
serted, "but we claim this matter
is not his affair. 1t is beyond his
official province"
Another speaker, Walter H. Nc
Clenon, representing the county
Civic Federation, said his organi-
zation has urged legislation to
have the School Board appointed
by the County Council.
He added, however, that "the
federation would favor an elected
board if it we're given a choice be-
tween that plan and the present
system.
Committee Chairman Perry o.
Wilkinson, Democrat, of Prince