Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1959-11-12

The present system OF CIV
ing out State scholarships
should be revamped, State
P-TA members voted last
weekend in Baltimore.
Meeting at the 44th annual
convention of the Maryland
Congress of Parents and Teach
ers, delegates also voiced con-
tinued support of an increase
in the State minimum teachers
salary.
In addition they passed reso-
luton calling for a new head
quarters building for the State
P-TA.
The above actions were
passed unanimously by approx
mately 1000 convention dele
gates representing the 191 900
P-TA members in the State.
While the P-TA Congress
commended the Maryland Gen.
eral Assembly for authorizing
the appointment of a special
commission to study the State
paid scholarships, it also re-
ported that the Congress was
extremely disturbed at the ac-
ton of the Legislative Council"
which on November A voted to
defer until 1861 any action on
the commissions recommends
tons.
Headed by Delegate Blair
Lee III, 3D., Mont), this COM
mission was applauded for its
study in developing plan for
consideration by the General
Assembly. The commission pro-
posed 452 new scholarships, an
increase in funds available to
public colleges, and amended re-
quirements for scholarship
awards.
The P-TA body reported that
this Is the fifth study in 80
years without q thorough re-
vision of the hodge-podge
method of awarding State schol-
arships," and strongly urged
the General Assembly to enact
a law during the 1860 session
that would provide uniformity
for the States scholarship pro-
gram.
Rueben Sanders, president of
the Montgomery County Coun-
ell Of PARENT Teacher Associa-
tions, spearheaded the criticism
Of the Legislative Councils post
ponement of action, and intro
duced the scholarship amend
ment to the % presidents of
Maryland's P-TA County Coun-
els, which body accepted It
unanimously.
The Congress assailed the
James COMMITTEES recommended
ton for a teacher pay increase
as totally inadequate" and
stressed again that the State
Parent-Teacher Association or
ganization still supports the
$4,000 to 5000 minimum salary
scale recommended In 1856. AL
though this scale was declared
currently inadequate, the Con-
gress agreed to support 1t in
hopes Of passage during the
forthcoming short session Of
the General Assembly.
THE James Committee would
add only $500 to the salary of
. teacher with 10 years expert
ence. This is totally inadequate.
It does nothing to recruit the
teachers we 30 desperately
need" said Mrs. Fred L. Bull,
past president Of the Congress,
who now serves as State lepis.
lative chairman Of the Con.
gress.
The James Committee, head.
ed by Sen. William S. James
3D., Harford), Is the Committee
on Taxation and Fiscal Matters
Of the Legislative Council. 1t
has proposed a State minimum
salary scale of $3,20O-$5,OOO.
The resolution concerning a
headquarters building for the
State P.TA group was placed
before the Congress because its
present rented quarters are be.
ing sold by the Maryland State
Teachers Association.
The Congress hopes to syn.
chronize the dedication of its
new headquarters in 1865 with
the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the Maryland Con.
gress Of Parents and Teachers.
Montgomery County officials
at the convention in addition to
Parent Teachers Association
representatives included the fol-
lowing: Delegate Edna Cook, OF
Montgomery County, past presi.
dent of the State Parent.Teach.
er Association organization, and
currently serving as an honor
airy president; Mrs. Kenneth S.
Cole, Chevy Chase, and Rich
ard Schifter, Bethesda, both of
whom are members Of the State
Board Of Education; Montgom.
cry County School Board mem.
bers Paul C. Howard, vice presi.