Evening star., 1953-06-11
70 Voice Pros and Cons on School Issue

ABOUT 500 persons attended
q f1ve-hour open hearing on
Montgomery County's proposed
$16.1 million overall school
budget last night and early to-
day.
The session, held in the cir
cult courtroom in Rockville,
got underway promptly at 8 pm.
1t ended at 1:55 am. today,
after 26 speakers had had their
say.
Proponents for and against
the budget pairing and their
comments included:
H. Stanley Stine, School Board
president - The board stands
squarely behind the budget.
There is not an item padded.
Mrs. Rupert Dunn, executive
secretary, United Cerebral Palsy
Society-"If a cut has to be
taken by crippled children, I
humbly request it not be so
drastic.
James @. Reber, president,
county Council of PTAS-We are
against any cut in the operating
and capital outlays in the school
budget.
Col. LathrOp Smith, county
Council member-Mr. Reber, we
gave no instruction for the prep
aration of Spartan budget.
William w. Evans, of Layhill
road, an attorney People in
this county are eating high off
the hog. Abolish the junior COL
leges and kindergartens. Kinder
gartens boil down to one years
public supported baby sitting at
taxpayers expense"
Cletis A. Davis, Allied Civic
Group, Inc.-Supports recon-
mended budget of county man
ager.
Clarke L. Fauver, Allied Civic
Group, Inc.-Economy is the by
word. Construction should be
limited to classrooms.
Carroll B. Fentress, former
president of PTA Council
Teachers salaries should be
based on efficiency and intel
ligence. It is a question to be
decided by the Board of Educa-
ton, not the county manager.
Henry HI. Smelling, president,
Montgomery County Civic Fed
eration-"We tried to approxi-
mate the rights of all, but I
can't possibly say kindergartens
are essential"
Brig. Gen. F. w. Browne,
U. S. A.. retired, county Civic
Fedepation-Any really signifi-
cant economies should be initi-
ated by the school administra-
ton under direction of the Board
of Education.
Jerome J. Harris, 4634 Hunt
avenue, Chevy Chase-"If our
bonds go down another notch
they may not be desirable"
Accept the cut.
Morris Allen, budget consult
ant to Montgomery County Tax
payers, Inc.-Presented a 90
minute statistical analysis urg-
ing showdown in school ex-
pansion program. But urged
a raise for teachers in first three
grades.
Maj Gen. Karl Truesdell,
U. S. A., retired. Homeowners
Tax League. Inc.-"Last year,
you appropriated money for 600
pupils who never reported for
school. You have overestimated."
Mrs. Thomas Lee Smith, pres
ident of county League of Women
Voters-"We are facing a tre-
mendous problem. We support
the uncut budget as q sound
one"
Mrs. Robert Madden. of Sec
ton S, Chevy Chase-"We gen.
orally favor the county managers
budget and an increase for
teachers, If the funds can be
found within the budget"
Jesse M. MacKnight, 1918 Had
don drive, Takoma Park - II
have no desire to pay more taxes.
But. if need be, by golly, I'm
willing to pay more for educa-
tion."
Mrs. Chester F. Page, Ameri-
can Association of University
Women-"We see no reason why
M n tgomery County schools
should be inadequately housed"
Myron s. Isaacs, PTA member
I'VE are not being overcharged.
The real problem is whether you
want to continue an adequate
system or to save a few pennies"
Roderick HI. Riley, 5000 Madi-
son street, Bethesda-"We seem
to have a much tighter approach |
to the school budget than in |
other fields of fiscal mattarS !