Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-09-28

the physical plant and the Institutional staff at the
Teachers Colleges. Obviously these colleges must be
expanded regardless of what board or boards operate
them.
Need For New Teachers
The State Department of Education has esti-
mated that will require than 5000 new teach
ers to meet enrolment growth normal replacement
needs and clrricula changes next year. But according
to the estimates all of colleges and univer-
sities-both public and private-will graduate less
than 1900 students in June 1862 who will be fully
qualified to teach Maryland boys and girls Thus
preparing considerably less than onethrd of the
teachers need to staff our classrooms Despite this
glarng need more than 300 potential teachers have
been turned away at Frostburg and Towson State
Teachers Colleges this semester because of insufficient
facilities at these institutions understand that the
other teachers colleges will also be badly overcrowded
before structures be erected. In the capital
budget for the present fiscal year. the totally made
quate sum of $1,066,000 was allowed for improve
ments at all five Teachers Colleges despite the fact
that the State Board of Education had officially re-
quested $4170240 for urgent projects at these in
stitutons.
call upon Governor Tawes to include in his
capital budget for the next session of the Legislature
ample provision for the physical expansion of the
Teachers Coleges-perhaps four or five times the
amount allowed for the current year-so that real
start can be made toward licking this problem. We
must remember that it normally takes two and half
years for new structure to be built, equipped and
occupied. At Coppn State Teachers College, the
phass should be these improvements needed for the
full generalization of the college by the Middle Atlantic
States examining boards. To those who might COM
plain that any such action would be premature be-
fore the report of the Curlett Commission respond
that the initial buildings can be of type that can be
adapted to any recommendation that the Commission
may reasonably be expected to produce. For instance,
additional dormtories will be needed in any event.
Public Higher Education
should like to make it abundantly clear that this
program for the Teachers Colleges should be supple
mentary to- and not in competition WITH the normal
expansion of the University of Maryland itself, which
will long remain chief public institution for post
graduate and research studies
In addition, recommend that the Governor take
long step in his next budget toward bringing the in
structional salary levels at the Teachers Colleges and
at Morgan State College up to the present level Of the
University of Maryland. Thsparity must be occomp-
nshed If the smaller colleges not to become aca
en1ic step-childfen M44
approve highly Of the legislation enacted this
year for the two-year community (junior) colleges.
The Legislature itself deserves all the credit for draft
ing and passing these bills, which will put the COM
munty colleges on a firm financial basis.
Development of the entire public higher educa-
ton system will have first priority If become Cover
nor in January Of 1863 Meanwhile, urge the pres
ent administration to get on with the job.