Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-05

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for higher pay and other benefits
in Montgomery County.
Known officially. as the Mont
gomery County Education Assoc
citation, Inc, it is attracting wide
attention because:
1, It has a full-time paid exec
utive secretary whose activities
including the editing OF q
monthly magazine-are similar
to those of a labor lobbyist and
negotiator.
2. It has taken on many fea-
lures of an aggressive trade
union.
8. It's $15-a-year dues are
triple those of any other local
teacher associations in the state.
This year it is producing a $780,
000-plus war chest to win friends
and pay raises.
Full Time Secretary
The association is the only
local teachers group in the East
to have a full-time paid execu-
tive secretary.
It's short-term goal is to make
the Montgomery County pay
schedule the best in the area.
On a long-range basis. it is
studying the feasibility of two
proposals made by former Pres
ident Joseph j. Tarallo-having
the county school tax rate set by
the board of education instead of
by the county council, and owner
ship by the association of a build
ing of it's own.
The association now operates
out of an air-conditioned, three
room suite in Rockville.
Salaries of $4,000 a year, or $s7
a week during the actual school
work year, are the goal for new
teachers just out of college with a
bachelors degree.
Higher Minimum Pay
Last week a lay committee
which studied the teacher salary
problem for several months rec
commended a salary based on a
minimum annual pay of $500.
A minority Of the committee
urged a $4,000 minimum. while
DR.. Forbes H. Norris, superin-
tendent of schools, backed the
teachers goal of $4,000 start
ing salary.
A hearing on the various salary
proposals will be held tonight at
8 before the Board of Education
in Rockville.
The highest starting salary in
the area is the Districts $4,000.
The present Montgomery begin
ming salary is $1,000.
A top of $4,000 is being sought
for Montgomery teachers who
stay with the system but fail to-
get more than a bachelors de-
gree. ,.,--.
The Montgomery association
in a comparatively short time
has become one Of the most pow
erful and influential organiza-
lions in a county where organ
izations are numbered among
the hundreds.
Its success has led other local
teachers groups to eye it with
envy.
Boasts 1880 Members
It is the official organization
of teachers, principals and ad-
ministrative, supervisory and
secretarial personnel in the
Montgomery public school sys-
tenn.
Among its 2,O3O members are
all top administrative officials
of the school system except DR..
Norris.
The result is that those whose
Jobs call for them to prepare
professional recommendations
for the school board on salary
scales and other teachers bene-
fits are members of an aSSocia-
ton whose prime objective is
the promotion of general well
fare and professional interest OF
the educators"
The association "does not
operate alone and unaided," its
handbook points out. Listed as
"Our Professional Partners" in
the handbook are:
1. The Maryland State Teach
ers Association, blasted by Gov
ernor McKeldin recently for
trying ito circumvent orderli-
ness and ram through its arbi-
trary wishes at the expense OF
other departments Of the State
Government" in lobbying for
the State teachers $500 pay in
crease bill, which died in the
closing days of the General As
sembiy this year.
2. The Maryland Congress OF
Parent Teachers Associations
and its Montgomery afflliates.
3. The National Education AS
ISOLATION.
Co-operates With School Board
Montgomery has the largest
membership in numbers and per-
Icentages in both the State and
national associations of any local
group in the State.
Close cooperation with these
groups, and with the staff of the
school board, has spelled marked
success for the Montgomery
teachers group.
President Of the association
this year is Mrs. Elsie j. Nelson.
But the real dynamo behind
the reorganization and its new
look is Mr.. Tarallo, principal Of
Richard Montgomery High
School, Rockville.
The executive secretary is Eric
Rhodes, a former Arlington