Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-02-16

proposal of the Maryland State
Teachers Association"
Robert Y. Dubel, Associate
Executive Secretary of MSTA,
described the news release by
the Governors assistant as a
masterpiece of brevity, gen.
eralization, and omission" Dubel
contended that the release from
the Governors office Jumped
proposed welfare appropriations
and local funds from a proposed
cigarette tax with the James
Committee recommendations for
schools, and then compared this
combined package with the
MSTA program which is de-
signed exclusively for school
aid.
Wrongly Identified
He declared that "it is un-
fortunate that the program en-
dorsed by our organization was
identified only as an MSTA
proposal in Mr.. Smiths news
release. This program enjoys
the sponsorship of every state
wide organization which is di-
rectly involved in the public
school program. 1t calls for an
increase in the state minimum
salary for teachers to a level of
$40O0-$6000. Actually, this pro-
gram is under the joint sponsor.
ship of the Maryland Congress
of Parents and Teachers and
the Maryland State Teachers
Association. 1t has the support
OF the State Board of Education,
the Maryland Association OF
School Boards, and the Mary.
land Association of Superinten.
dents of Schools"
Dubel emphasized that the
James Committee proposals for
education, welfare and increased
local revenue through the ciga-
rette tax are currently before
the Legislature in separate
bills.
THE Welfare and cigarette
tax recommendations should be
considered on their own merits. /"
He declared eff the welfare and
cigarette tax bills are passed,
we should add the amount of
money involved for each coun-
ty and Baltimore City to the
funds proposed in the MCPT-
MSTA program If we are to
make a fair and accurate com.
parison."
Hits Distribution
Dubel agreed with Smith that
all of the James Committee
funds could be used by the coun-
ties and Baltimore City with
full freedom lin accordance
with their greatest need" How
ever, he criticized this method
of distribution, declaring that it
Is wrong to sell state aid pro-
gram on the basis of what it
will do for schools on one hand
and to tell the county cop1mis-
sioners on the other hand that
they do not need to spend one
cent OF the money for an i'm
proved program of education. /"
1t is specified in the MCPT-
MSTA legislation, which has SO
sponsors in the General Assem-
bly,, that the funds appropriated
must be used locally for schools.
Dubel indicated that MSTA has
no quarrel with that part of the
James Committee progra m
which would permit county com.
missloners to use the cigarette
tax funds for non.school pur-
poses or for local tax reduc-
tons.
"Once we properly exclude
the cigarette tax and welfare
bills from this discussion of in
creased state aid for education,
1t became a simple matter of
comparing $6,42S,O76 under the
James proposal to S12,4S1. TIA
under the MCPT-MSTA pro-
gram" declared Dubel. "More
than 100000 people in the state
have already signed petitions
calling the James program in.
adequate and urging the Cover
nor and General Assembly to
enact the MCPT.MSTA pro-
gram.
THE people of Maryland are
obviously ready to support a
substantially improved pro.
gram of education. The James
Committee recommendation of.