Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-22
Adviser Role
Approved in
Montgomery
BY G. o. HERNDON
Star Stan Writer

In determining which of their
colleagues will be given merit
pay raises beginning next
Under the plan, approved
after more than a year Of study
and controversy. 305 teachers
with masters degrees will be
evaluated for possible promo
ton to two nonautomatic steps
in the salary schedule adopted
for the 1959-60 school year.
The plan offers them raises
from their present salary of
$7.700 q year to $500 a year.
Announcement of the plans
details was made by County
School Supt. C. Taylor Whit
tier at a special press con-
ference yesterday.
Last April, the county gov
eminent approved q substan-
tial teacher pay raise at q cost
of 1913 million. The raise
boosted the salaries Of some
5000 county teachers to the
highest pay level for teachers
in the Washington Metropoli-
tan Area.
Board of Education mem
bers, in urging acceptance of
the pay increase, assured coun-
ty taxpayers they would use
the higher salaries to recruit
and retain experienced, career
teachers.
Only Plan Of Kind
The new plan, as finally ap-
proved, will in effect give coun-
ty teachers the authority to
recommend superior teachers
for extra pay through an elab-
crate system Of planning, re-
view and appeal boards.
Arthur J. Simonds, execu-
tive secretary Of the Montgom-
cry County Education Associa-
ton, said the plan will be the
only one of its kind in the
United States.
Supt. Whittier declared:
"One Of the attributes of a
profession is that it can look
at itself and make civilizations
:. We are laying great empha-
sis on effectiveness in class
rooms"
The superintendent said the
higher salary steps for career
teachers should encourage
teachers to prepare themselves
better and should attract
teachers with an effective
classroom personality"
18th and 18th Steps
The special increments in
the pay scale are awarded. at
the 18th and 18th steps Of
the salary schedule for teach
ers with masters degrees. To
be eligible, teachers must have
Maryland certification and
must have served at least one
year on the 10th step of the
scale. The masters pay scale
ranges from $4,700 to $500.
including the final two career
steps.
Supt. Whittier stressed the
point that the career pay will
not be granted on a quota
basis. He said that If all the
eligible teachers were to be
placed on career pay. the
school board has sufficient
funds TO pay their salaries. He
added that evaluations and
Recommendations submitted by
the various boards will be ap-
proved in his Office as a mat
ter of routine.
Named as teacher-secretary
(supervisor) of the career rec
ignition plan was Mrs. Angela
E. Darby, who has taught at
Bethesda Chevy Chase High
School since the school was
built in 1894. Her appointment
| to the post was considered an
indication that school admins
traitors were interested in i'm
plementing q plan acceptable
| to the teaching profession.
Previous Plans Critic
Last February, a committee
appointed to study possible
merit pay features in the 1852
/ go salary schedules was unable
to agree and issued two reports,
one favoring q merit pay sys-
TEN the other opposing it. Mrs.
Darby was a leader of the
group of teachers who criticized
the merit pay proposals then
under consideration.
Later, DR.. Whittier appointed
a new advisory group. identified
as the committee on teaching
classification and career recog-
milton. The group consisted of
IS members, including 20 teach
ers and school administrators.
Under the new plan, rep
resentative panel will be
formed. It's members will con-
sist of one teacher elected from
each elementary school, two
teachers from each secondary
| school, 20 representatives from
the elementary and secondary
principals associations, 20 rep
resentatives from the super
visors association, four junior
college teachers and several
teachers representing the spe-
cial education and travelling
teacher staff.
Members of this broad pam
ell will choose members Of PLAN
ning-review and appeal boards.
A teacher seeking placement
in the 18th and 18th steps of
the masters pay scale must
first participate in an evalua-
ton conference with his prin-
cipal and a supervisor.
The conference recommen-
dation will then he trans