Evening star., 1953-11-11
Maryland PTA
To oConsider
Five Proposals
47O LocuI Units
Meet Tomorrow
In Baltimore
BY the Assoeiatsd Press

BY the Asseeioted Press
| BALTIMORE, Nov. 11.-Mary-
lands Congress of Parents and
Teachers will be asked tomorrow
to adopt a campaign for new
laws to:
l. Create a separate State
agency to handle the problems
of juvenile delinquency.
2. Increase the salaries Of
county school superintendents,
who were passed over when
higher salaries were provided for
teachers by the General AS
sembly last winter.
3, Expand driver trainin g
courses in the high schools.
4. Increase State aid to Ii
brarieS.
5. Expand Federal aid to
schools in districts which have
been swamped hecause they are
close to military posts and other
Federal installations.
Mrs. Cook Is Chairman.
The proposals are embodied in
a program drawn up by the
Maryland PTA's Legislative Com
mittee, headed by Mrs. Stanley
G. Cook Of Indian Head.
She will submit it tomorrow
at the opening of the annual
convention. Delegates from 472
local units, representing almost
100000 PTA members in the
State, will consider it during the
convention and vote on it Fri
day.
Mrs. Cook and her group also
have marked for emphasis a
plea for stricter enforcement of
the State law on the overload
ing of school buses. They also
will ask for a review of the reg
ulation the State Department
of Education has on teachers
smoking in and around schools.
The proposed legislative pro-
gram is set forth in a report
which covers a score of subjects
from the intricate equalization
formula for State aid for schools
to foluridation of public water
supplies to prevent tooth decay.
Teacher Pay Stand.
The Legislative Committee re-
iterates q belief Maryland's pub
lie school teachers should get at
least $4,000 a year to start and
rise in 10 years to a minimum
salary of $4,000.
The present scale starts at
$2,500 The range will Jump to
81, ,800-$4,600 in two years under
legislation already enacted.
In its study of the juvenile
delinquency problem. Mrs. Cooks
group agreed with the Sobeloff
Commission on Administrative
Organization of the State:
Maryland needs a separate
agency to handle youngsters in
trouble with the law.
The PTA group did not take
sides in the current controversy
over whether this should be a
new and independent agency or
a separate division of the De-
partment Of Public Welfare.
Model Suggested.
It was suggested the juvenile
court system in Montgomery
County should be studied as a
model for Statewide applica-
ton.
The Legislative Committee sug-
gested the PTA should continue
its insistence on harsher laws
against dope peddlers.
1t also said:
1--WE urge that sex offenders
not be paroled until they have
had positive treatment at State
institution set up for the reha-
Utilization of such persons"
The committee also suggests
the PTA keep pressing for
periodic inspection of motor
vehicles at State-operated safety
stations, as well as stricter ex-
animation of those applying for
licenses to drive.
Within the public school sys-
tenn, the group recommended:
Greater State aid for new
school buildings and more money
for the State teachers colleges.
Inclusion of kindergartens and
junior colleges in the State
school system.
Greater pension benefits for
retired teachers.
Creation at the University of
Maryland of a college for the
training of elementary teachers.
Greater use of the services of
psychologists and psychiatrists.