Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-06-09

pacity and extra children are ex-
pected next year. The addition
TO the Rock Creek Palisades Ele-
mentary School, which was in
cluded in the School Board bud
get would have taken care of
the overflow. If the County Man
ayers cuts remain in effect,
however, the Superintendent of
Schools has marked off the Rock
Creek addition, because other
areas have even greater need.
This would mean really intoler-
able overcroWding at Pleasant
View. With new houses con-
stantly being built in this area,
the Rock Creek addition must be
completed sooner or later. We
think it should be done now. This
is only one example of situations
all over the County.
Even more important is the
question of teachers salaries.
The proposed scale, under the
County Managers budget, would
put Montgomery below Prince
Georges, Fairfax, Arlington, and
the District. The good teachers
that we now have would have
no financial incentive to stay.
New ones of high caliber would
be impossible to hire. There are
too few teachers anyway. 1t is
unthinkable to us that the Coun-
Gil would let such a situation con-
tinue, when a few cents on the
tax rate would go such a long
way toward remedying matters.
We think this would be false
economy of the worst sort.
We want the Council to know
that it is literally true that thou
sands of families have moved to
Montgomery County because of
the good reputation of its public
school system.
Certain other aspects of the
County Managers budget seem
excellent. We urge the Council
particularly to approve the Rock
ing Horse Elementary Commun-
ity School,
Sincerely yours,
William Crawford,
President
PleasantvieW Citizens
Association.
i Il
Editor,
Montgomery County Sentinel
Dear Sir:
A few days ago, 1 returned
from a lengthy trip and my at
tention was directed to your May
5 editorial on swimming pools.
At this late date, 1 am taking the
liberty of commenting.
After reading the editorial sew
eral times, I could not be sure
whether it was intended to be
humorous, facetious, ironical,
satirical, or mere editorial license
with intentions of offense. But
of intent, a little eff
fort on your part would have
recognized the following:
l. The Recreation Department
would like to build swimming
pools which are utilitarian in
character and not at all like "the
institution of the Roman BATH"
An examination of the July, 1854
report submitted by the Recrea-
ton Board to the County Coun-
Gil would make that point clear.
2. No less an American source
than the Wall Street Journal re-
cognizes that public swimming
pools-commercial or govern
ment oWned-are here to stay
and points out that there are
more than 5000 operated by gov
ornamental agencies in this coun-
try and about 1000 operated by
commercial interests.
8. The proposed location of
these pools has already been
placed in the areas where they
are most needed. These areas
are Silver STANDARDIZATION,
Bethesda, Rockville, and the San
dy Springs-Olney area. When you
ask how the location of these
pools wild be determined-by
selling the county prime quick
sand areas or by drawing lots to
condemn the property of wild
ows?" you are directing an I'M
warranted insult at our county
officials and the intelligence of
our citizens.
4. There is nothing wrong with
the Gaithersburg and Twinbrook
idea of building private commu-
nifty pools. But these pools at
cannot even serve one
third of the populace in the area
from which they draw member
ship.
5. The Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals recently ruled on segre-
cation in public recreation facil-
tiles. This case has been appeal
ed by Baltimore authorities to
the Supreme Court. When the
Supreme Court announces its rul-
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