Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1957-11-14
Letters
Look at This Cat

When your paper headlining
the pecuniary troubles of our
teachers arrived two weeks ago,
thought, what a fine public
service this paper has per-
formed; they should receive
many letters of commentator
for this service. But did not
write the letter l felt you de-.
served. Today, your editorial
page reports that many letters
were received from those not in
sympathy with the teachers
plight. The main concern of
these people was their own wage
scale.
1t is hard to believe that so
many people fail to see the i'm
portance of the teacher in Amer
lea. How many children in the
elementary grades are imbued
with a dislike of school and
learning by second late teach
ers? How many children of abil-
ity will this aversion to learning
turn from productive careers in
science? How much harm has
been done and how much will
be done to the professional and
scientific worlds of the next gen.
Grafton? Let these people look
to the skies where two Russian
satellites circle the earth. Let
these people read and hear the
gleeful Dragging of Khrushchev
as he points out to the world
the Russian leadership in the
field of rockets. Let these PEG.
pie read of the Russian high
school students knowledge COM
pared with an American student
of the same grade. Is this
enough to convince them or
must they wait until Russia is
looking down our throat with
an overwhelming superiority of
modern weapons?
Will raise in teachers sal.
aries correct all this? No, it will
not, but it will be a step in the
right direction. 1t will attract
better teachers for our children.
1t will allow our teachers to
live In an atmosphere of dig.
nifty. 1t will produce more re-
spect for the teachers among
those Americans who measure a
mans worth by the money he
has. 1t will start softening a
little of that anti-intellectual
shell that imprisons America to.
day, and that shell is the real
cause of our problems. That
shell is what causes some chill
dren to take care lest their
marks are too high. If they are
too serious about their studies.
their fellow students will look
down on them as a square. To be
labeled a square Is a horrible
thing. 1t means that one is not
properly concerned about the
more important matters in the
teen-agers world; some of these
more important matters are the
latest hit singer or song, the
latest automobile model, the
football score, the proper teen
age uniform of black denims or
whatever conformity DEGREES at
the moment, the latest in slang
or smart cracks, the latest dance
step, the most popular disk
jockey of the moment. Granted
that these things are an import.
ant part of the teen-agers world
but not to the exclusion of a
decent education.
Respect for learning?" asks
the teenagers. "Are you off your
rocker? Look at this cat. He was
Just a truck driver. He grabs a
guitar, hits a hot note in rock
and roll, and whines and writhes
in ecstasy. Now he has four
Cadillacs and a couple sports
cars. Next year he will make
over a million dollars. Show me
a scientist or teacher who can
top that"
A year or two ago a national
magazine interviews an oil mil.
lonaire in Texas. "Engineers?"
he says. Engineers? They are
a dime a Dozen"
In Montgomery County, Mary.
land, woman writes a letter to
the editor. She asks, "Why
should I have to pay school
taxes? / don't have any chill
dren." Why? Look up in the sky,
lady. Those kids whose educa.
ton you are paying for today
will stand behind the intricate
equipment that will protect you
from the Russians tomorrow.
If the United States is to sur
vive in this modern world, the
people must understand the need
Tor good teachers. We have the
brains, the courage and the re-
sources. All that is needed is
understanding and direction.
Your newspaper should tell
them. Repeat it again and