The Republican., 1955-03-03
Letter To The Editor
Keep the Record Stralaht

fNEtB LfIE NEAOi u aAi aijitA
The Republican,
am being forced 10 do some
thing | have no taste for. and that
is to defcnd myself publicly in the
paper against attacks, questioning
my personal honesty Unfair accu-
sations by telephone, by anonY-
nous letters and at public sales
are being charged to me. ] have no
choice but to answer back
In my weekly column Our grow
ing edge ! am printing am ac-
counting OF my work as Council
President here in Garrett County,
and what some of our P.-T.A.s are
accomplishing
During last years campaign.
when MIR Friend was running for
Senator he visited my home and in
a casual conversation. | remarked
that perhaps an elected school
board would be better than an ap-
pointed one. / was expressing a
personal opinion not as a spokes-
man for my P-T.A. that was an
error on my part Yet, | DID NOT
make any promises to Mr.. Friend
that | would support him if he
sponsored such legislation. nor did
he ask me for any such promise
Therefore ! do not feel that | was
under any obligations to Mr. Friend,
whatever
At 4 recent Parcnt-Teacher board
meeting in Baltimore, | was ques-
tioning older and more experienced
folks about the matter, and their
opinion was that our State Of Md
has better system than other
states, and helps to keep partisan
activities at 4 minimum on our i'm
pOrtant Boards of Education These
folks are unselfishly working for
our schools in an objective way,
regardless of political belief. and
| resolved to try and see if our p.
T.A's. could be the leaders in max
ing our present system work bet
ter and more satisfactorily. Such
thinking led to the meeting planned
on March 18th, where we are spOn-
sOring public forum, and infOr-
nation about the workings of the
Board of Education. From this
meeting can come plans for recon-
mending and supporting competent
people now and in the future to
sit on our Boards of Education
That is a democratic procedure, as
well as voting by ballot
When | was asked by group to
60 to Annapolis and speak before
the Education Committee at a
hearing on Mr.. Friends bill, | con-
sented. A prepared statement was
drawn up, but since | have never
been willing to have words put in
my mouth. | prepared in addition
some thoughts Of my own.
! would like to quote a few of
them. | said. Il believe we are see
ing an ever increasing interest in
our schools, and their problems.
and that we are also seeing a will
lingness on the part Of the people
to help in solving them. | believe
we have many problems confront
ing us. and that we all need to
work at them, regardless of our po-
litical beliefs l believe we can i'm
prove on the method we already
have Of appointing our members.
We can do this by recommending
competent people to serve on our
boards. by arOuSing people to take
more active part in the appoint
ments that are made. | believe our
P.-T.A's are capable of being the
leaders in this important task, with
our civic and farm organizations
cooperating Patience and under
standing can do for our schools
what political pickering can never
do" Those were my words
In the minds Of many folks,
am being put in the rather uncom-
Portable position of being the crimi-
nal in the case. / make statement.
with no promises made. Mr. Friend
goes to Annapolis, brings out a
bill and l 90 down to oppose it.
| ask you. would Mr.. Friend have
been SO foolish. having had expert
ence as Senator tG attempt to en-
act such a law on only my say-so?
This law would affect the entire
county, and ] am only one woman,
perhaps a little more for speaking
up than some. but | am quite sure
| do not rate that high. | never
realized | had that much prestige
with Mr. Friend.
Before going to Annapolis, l con-
tacted my PTA's for their opinions.
! did not have time 10 see them all.
and here again | was completely
honest about it. Before Mr.. Friend
and his committee, | made this
statement. Il do not presume to
speak for the thousand Parents and
Teachers who are members Of our
group in Garrett County Yet, |
will say in the last two days, | have
contacted many of my people on
this issue, and every one of them
were against the bill except one
and one undecided. Besides my
PTA folks, | spoke to banker, two
attorneys, a minister a former
County Commissioner and several
business men. Without exception
they were against it. Those were
also my words.
The question has been asked,
why did not everyone know of the
hearings?" Ask Mr.. Friend that