davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Education

Cheers upon cheers for your
cartoon and accompanying edi-
torial on the alleged school sys-
tenn of this county. Picture win
dows, venetian blinds and fluor-
escent lighting do not make a
school. All it takes is an hon.
est-to-God teacher and some
educatable pupils. The fact of
the matter is that most of our
high school graduates are illit-
crate, a fact easily ascertained
by the most casual examination.
For a truly acid test give one
of them, almost any one of
them, a secretarial job. So far
as arithmetic is concerned, in
most cases, If you cut off a
thumb they couldn't count over
nine. AS for spelling: Whaz-
Eat?
1t is fashionable in these days
to lump all critics of our al
legged school system into the
category of benighted ivers in
the past, but the past turned up
some pretty literate characters
even though by current stand
ards they paid too much atten-
ton to such things as split in
finitives.
Rncs q Hurraxr
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

Mr.. William Smith (Sentinel
2-23-61) seems to believe that no
man with political aspirations
dares to publicly blast "the most
powerful of all the States or.
gained groups - the teacher
educator bloc, DR.. Pullen, and
the State Teachers Association,
combined with the PTA's."
If so, it's time to blast; and
Man Bites Dog" makes for
much better copy than Dog
Bites Man." These organiza-
tons add nothing to the econo-
my of our State; they owe their
power to the power of the State
to tax its citizens. In attacking
this powerful organization, it
would seem that Governor
Tawes has accepted that his OBJ
legation to the taxpayers super
cedes his personal political as.
pirations.
Those who oppose the educa-
tionists' thinking, or those
whom the educationists cannot
educate" via their various ed
ucational tax supported pro-
grams for adults" In-serv-
ice training; junior colleges,
schools; group study confer
ences; and the regularly desig-
mated adult education" courses
= are seemingly slated for abo-
lihon.
If Governor Tawes prefers to
serve the people of Maryland
as Governor of a Sovereign
State, rather than as a figure
head of some regional authority
established by the educational
hierarchy, I'm sure that, if and
when the issues become clear
cut, he will have the active sup.
port of the vast majority of the
people of our State behind him.
David Lawrence (Star, 2-22.
GID in Lesser Roles for the so
Ststes?" has sounded the warn
ing of a Constitutional Crisis.
Let the Governor blast" - If
blast he must - and long may
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

TINE Board of Appeals which has assumed the role Of
cute society of wouldbe jurists who never quite mace
the grade as successful politicians has stuck its foot In its
mouth again
It was not too long ago that the Circuit Court sug-
gested that the Board little common sense as the
Court delivered publicly long overdue verbal spanking
to the Boards broadside.
Now in another fit of verbal over-indugence the
judicial talents.
The Board saw fit to deride those who felt that 1SS
foot tower atop the Telephone Building on Georgia
ave- in Silver Spring would be undesirable eyesore and
would have an adverse affect on the community.
The street is not too impressive anyway the opinion
writer of little talent declared Well to that one, it may
not be- but perhaps the writer would tell where in sub
urban Washington find three more impressive
of Silver Spring office buildings which this particular
area?
And then fit of adolescent observation the Boards
seesteemed author went People do not go walking
around looking at the sky at the tops of buildings at
least not they hope to stay alive in this day OF pedestrian
hazards busy streets Likewise in active offices people
do not spend their time looking out of windows unless they
wish to get fired"
If that is the case then there is little to build
beautiful office buildings except in the cheapest rundown
areas to ban junk yards adjacent to office buildings
to prohibit bboards along scenic highways or for
that matter to require hearings in the future on such
matters towers which might stand like shoe boxes on
top of bean poles"
The Board of Appeals again has brought the derison
itself and its appontive body by its nept handling of
it's business
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

Wick Byron's Column

the Board of Appeals said was mot too
impressive anyway" It's very impressive to
a lot of people including those who have
been responsible for the construction of fine
tall buildings
The Telephone Building is on the corner
of Georgia and F'idler Lane. It's design is
goodlooking. Across Georgia avenue is the
huge Johns Hopkins Lab which is no SLOUGH
of a building. Furthermore, the planting in
front of it is beautiful Across the main
street is the old Bank of Silver Spring Build.
ing that is not exactly ugly Next to it is the
big Guardian Federal Building with five stor-
les It's modern and certainly impressive for
a suburban town. Across from it is the new
nine-story Bank of Silver Spring Building.
There is photo of it today in this news.
paper. And directly across from it is the rich
looking Perpetual Building Association struc.
ture with five stories.
Just beyond to the north is the Woodsde
Methodist Church and it is beautiful
Churchlooking Church with neat wide-open
parking lot To the east is one of the incest
looking public buildings in the area. This is
the Park and Planning Commission Building
that is beautifully handicapped with simple
but good-looking fountain.
We would say this area of Georgia ave.
nue. is just about as impressive as any subur.
ban business section in the entire United
States. And we imagine there are many per-
sons who resent the er-than-mighty att.
tlIde taken by the Board of Appeals. The
only backward looking area in this section is
the block known as the Scrimgeour Strip.
And there are plans to make this quite inn
pressive.
The Board Of Appeals stepped beyond
the powers it has granted itself. 1t is not
the Supreme Court and they should stop act
ing like it, forthwith.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Support Planning

THE Park and Planning Commissions proposed fveyear
planning program deserves the support of all citizens
interested in maintaining Montgomery Counys enviabe
reputation outstanding place in which to live and
work.
The program is ambitious and farreachng in its i'm
pications to the future growth of the county But
more important is the planning agencys recognition of the
pressing problems to which must be found and its
intention to solve them in to protect and continue the
countys expansion
- To finance this program the Commission proposes
modest hafcent increase the present 4cent planning
tax In view of the purposes for which planning funds will
be used this increase Is amply justified if the Commission
Is unable to find ways and means of economzng in other
phases of its work.
The program which is contained in the planning agen-
cys proposed budget for the 12month period beginning
May contempates stepping up work in all phases of plan
ming These include watershed stdies extension of the
general plan, community and neghborhood analyses
ing and street plans, photogrammeric mapping land
surveys and various master plans.
During the last 10 years. the countys population has
than doubedfrom 900 to 1888 000 and this phe
nomenal growth shows signs of slowing down.
Despite this skyrocketing expansion with its accom-
panyng demand for and better services Montgomery
County has remained of the nations top-ranng
There has been room for improvement in effecting
orderly growth but there doubt that the influence of
the Park and Planning Commission has been felt to large
degree
County residents should acquaint themselves with the
eyear program and therefore be prepared to make
structve suggestions. And by the TOKEN the Com
mission should be the alert to spend tax dollars in
the most intelligent and constructive way possible.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

l would like to inform the old
neighbors, friends and students
of Mrs. Myra B. He'll that she
is now living in a rest home in
Indiana. She is almost blind,
has arthritis, which has crippled
her. I know it would please
her a great deal to hear from
all of us. 1t need not be a long
letter - a pretty card with a
few cheerful words would be
fine.
Her address is: Mrs. Myra B.
Hell, Indiana Baptist Home,
West Goth ST., Zionville, Ind.
Can't you just imagine her
surprise and joy, when ali the
notes and cards begin coming
in, to know that she hasn't been
forgotten? 1t seems a small
thing to do, but 1t can mean
SO much to a lonely soul.
Thank you all very kindly.
Mrs. Enda HI. Reber
Washington Grove
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
RIM
of the
T 1 M ES
Mail Tale

I write my friends and re-
latives To hear how they
get on >. l love ane feel con-
Germ for them The trials
they've undergone 1 write
at length and tell the news
:. Recall old friends we know
But not a word do they
reply From them no
blessings flow I'd love to
hear from all of them To
learn their latest state
Why don't they drop a line
some time And this to me
relate? There's lots of
news I'd like to learn To
help pass boresome days . /.
/ am so lonely all alone (.
And chafe a. their delays {.
l do not wish to grippe too
much About this writing
snag But honestly l do
dislike This careless mis-
sive lag.
- Richard Hobart
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Letters to the Sentinel

there any provision for such an
experiment as Amidon nor any
recognition of the educational
principles 1t embodies.
Instead, this county is en-
barked upon an unwieldly cur
riculum study" involving huge
numbers of people with differ
ing educational views. l cannot
conceive that such method will
produce any concrete conclu-
sions. 1t shifts a responsibility
that is basically the boards and
prima facie relieves the board
and the school administration
of any responsibility in the
areas of improving education,
and the people are left with no
effective means of judging the
boards performance two years
hence.
1t all adds up to tragedy, and
especially so in this enlight
ened and relatively rich com.
munity. We boast that our
school system is the finest in
the area. I sincerely hope that
the aura of success which is
rapidly lighting the way for
Amidon will shed some light on
educational issues in this coun.
ty, for without a recognition OF
the educational principles in
volved in Amidon, we do not
have the finest school system
but only the most expensive.
Yours very truly,
Charles +. James
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Moving Aheod

rN1E Montgomery County Art Center organization is
going forward in its plans for cultural center suited
to the needs of the people. Good!
It announced this week that the firm of Reyes,
Lethbdge and Condor had been retained to draw up the
plans for center that will cost in the neghborhood of
million dollars. The selection made by committee
headed by Carl NJ Freeman vice president of the Art Gen.
ter And Mr. Freeman has demonstrated his ability in the
design field.
We trust the leaders of this movement have definite
plans for raising the necessary funds for this civic need
would be unfortunate to have excellent ideas plans and
much effort thwarted by the inability to get the necessary
money to this project ahead to successful
clrlsion.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Jomes On Education

/ had supposed that l would
be retired to some Valhalla re-
served for defeated school
board candidates, there to re-
fleet upon the vagaries of hui
mankind and even the wisdom
of my own thoughts. However,
the lead editorial in your Feb
ruary % issue, and the heart.
ening news regarding the sue.
cess of the Districts Amidon
School experiment, prompt me
to fire at least another round.
It was more than 20 years
ago that Walter Lippmann, in
an address entitled Education
Without Culture" expressed
the thought that in this nation
we have created a system Of
education in which we insist
tina while everyone must be
educated, yet there is nothing
in particular that an educated
man must know. Unfortunately,
this is true in Montgomery
County today. Record educa-
tional budgets have produced,
as your incisive cartoon in the
same issue indicates, high teach
ers' salaries, the best school
plants, experimental methods,
high administrative salaries, air
conditioning, and altogether too
frequently, uneducated chill
dren. The pity of it all is not
the wasted money, but the
blindness of a Board of Educa.
ton and a school administration
that equates quality education
with no more than dollars
spent, and the complacency OF
a population that would allow
itself to be led in such a path.
I recall rather wildly thai
last spring, when DR.. Hansen
first announced the Amidon ex
pertinent, a suggestion was
made in writing, to the Mont
gomery County Board of Edu
cation, that this county under
take a similar experiment. TIC
put it kindly, the board was un
receptive. The Assistant Super
intendent of Schools in this
county dismissed the Amidor
experiment as a "sop" to reac
tionary forces,
In the recent school board
campaign, I suggested that Am
idon School embodied much Of
the philosophy of education
held. Both Mrs. Kicker and Mrs
Maurer, and to some degree DR.
Beck, expressed somewhat
lukewarm interest in the expert
ment. l suspect, however, thai
their remarks were no more
than lip service. In any event
any interest they had is appar
emily stone cold now for no
where in the new record bulge
the board recently approved il
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
TheeAcat!

LITTLE excitement has been created this week by
"A eral reports of wandering lion.
We the lady in Clarksburg saw big lion
crouched beside fence her home And are equally
certain the people in the Nobeck the big catke
Footprints So the big must be still visiting fair
county.
Whether this mountain creature came for short
visit and left is still hanging around there
Der of who would much rather him than another
snowsorm-the usual for conversation this winter
Come to think of tit could have been BASIL the Bas-
sett Hound.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

of the State Farm Bureau, l
asked the Attorney Generals
office if it would be necessary
to re-enact the Farm Land AS
sessment Act once again so
that it would follow the rati-
fication of the amendments. I
was advised that it would be a
wise precaution.
The re-enactment, embodied
In House Bill 391, has already
passed the House of Delegates
without a dissenting vote
either in the Ways and Means
Committee or on the floor of
the House.
Comes now Darius Phillips
with some recommendations
presented on behalf of the
Committee for Fair Taxation,
upon which I should like to of.
fer comment:
81. Land shall be assessed
at its actual value unless a
public agency acquires the de-
velopment rights from the
owner"
Comment: This would vir-
tuaIly nullify the effect of the
act. No county government,
no matter how much it may
want to preserve open spaces,
has the money to buy the de-
velopment rights of more than
a tiny fraction of the hun.
dreds of square miles of farm
land within its boundaries.
80. Conveyance of develop
ment rights to a public agen-
cy shall reduce the assessment
by an amount corresponding
to the value of the develop
ment rights"
Comment: No legislation Is
needed. If a landowner sells
or gives away his develop
ment rights, he automatically
ceases to be taxed for such
values, for the obvious reason
that he no longer owns them.
incidentally, the authority for
the purchase of development
rights or Conservation ease
ments" by the State or County
is contained in the Open
Spaces Act of 1860, which is
an entirely separate law. I
was also the sponsor of it.
"3. These provisions to APP.
ply to farmland, churches,
non profit sch ools, golf
courses, and any other land
for which a public agency ac-
quires development rights"
Comment: II Darius Phil.
lips thinks that l am going to
sponsor legislation to deprive
churches and non profit
schools of their age-old exemp-
ton from property taxes, he
is really goofy.
"a. These provisions to ap.
ply in any case to Montgom.
cry County. if the representa-
tives OF other counties desire
different provisions with re.
spect to their counties"
Comment: Sure, let's drive
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Inside Annapolis
By BLAIR LEE, III
Chairman, Montgomery County Delegation

our farmers out Of business,
while all the others go merri-
ly on their way.
One other observation is in
order. Not all of the mem
bers of the Committee for Fair
Taxation agree with one an
other, and not all are as radi.
cal as Mr.. Phillips.
One of the more moderate
members. Ed Rovner, suggest
ed last December that I inves-
tigate the feasibility of an
amendment that would permit
a county government to modi-
fly the act in its own county to
prevent specific local abuses.
I put this question to Bill
Riley. the Acting Director of
the Department of Assess
ments and Taxation. He
begged me not to proceed with
such an idea, since it would
lead to a chaotic variety of as
sessment rules throughout the
State. He said that the De
partment was refining its cri-
terra for screening out land
owners who were not bona fide
farmers and assured me that
the criteria would be effective
to that end.
Although the bill has passed
the House. it occurs to me that
one amendment to tighten up
its application ought to be put
on in the Senate. and l shall
suggest it to Ed Northrop. l
am quite certain that he will
accept it. The House can then
concur in the Senate amend
ment.
The amendment would pro-
vide that farm land would lose
its special tax status if pub
lie sewer and water were pres
emily available. Surely land
that has been taken into q
Sanitary District and that has
sewer and water lines reach
ing out toward it is too far
gone to qualify as farm land.
Postscript
! note that Mr.. Phillips re-
quest for changes in the law
was accompanied by a blast
at me in one of the county
papers. He says that start.
ed the whole thing because my
father owns farm land in the
upper fringe of Montgomery
County and in Frederick and
Carroll Counties.
Darius, do you really, really
believe that? Or are you just
having some politically in.
spired fun?
Do you know that for the
past seven years ! have beer
fighting tooth and nail against
the inclusion of the Upper
Northwest Branch Valley ir
the Sanitary District prior tc
the adoption of a master ION
ing plan for the area?
And do you know that my
father and l are co-owners Of
Continued on Page 49,
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

Any time you want to
stir up a little excitement in
Montgomery County, the
first step is to form On as
ISOLATION with "a name that
starts off with the words "Cit-
liens Committee for Fair -"
Just fill in the blank with
whatever it is that you are
promoting.
Already well known is Phil
Thorson's Committee for Fair
Representation, which has
been working on the reappor-
tionment problem.
The only news from that
quarter is that the Committee
seems to be shifting its posi-
ton from adamant insistence
on its own bill (Which is much
too sophisticated for the Gen.
eral Assembly, to cautious
support of the Staten-Mandel
bill, which would set up two
or more legislative districts in
the larger counties.
Then there is the Commit
tee for Fair Taxation, heaS I'd
by Mr.. Darius v. Phillips, of
Chevy Chase, who is a build
er by day and a liberal" poll
tician after hours.
Other leaders of this group
are Messrs. Henry Balm and
Neal Potter, both liberal Dem.
ocrats, and Messrs. Bill Ro-
mack and Hal Lackey. who
were Republican candidates
for the County Council in 1858.
An odd combination!
Land Taxation
In 1856 the General Assem-
bly, enacted the Farm Land
Assessment Act, which l had
sponsored at the request of
the County Farm Bureau after
a University of Maryland
study revealed the fact that
farm land was being assessed
at a higher level here than in
neighboring counties because
of its potential value for sub
division sometime in the flu
ture. The result was that
farmers of limited means were
being forced to sell out.
The act required that lands
which are actively devoted to
farm or agricultural use snail
be assessed on the basis of
such use, and shall not be as
sessed as if subdivided."
In 1860 the act was held UNI
constitutional by the Court of
Appeals as a result of a suit
brought by a real estate de-
veloper in Howard County.
The Legislature promptly
re-enacted it in the 1860 ses-
sion and also initiated two
amendments to cure the con-
stitutional defect. They came
to be known as Questions 13
and Ia on the ballot last No
vember and were ratified by
the voters of the State by an
overwhelming majority.
This year, at the suggestion
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Montgomery County
S E N TIN { [

CY M. CAMPBELL, Publisher
Byron Sedgwick, Editor
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MEMBER MARYLAND PRESS ASSOC.
AFFILIATE MEMBER NATIONAL
EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
SENTINEL PUBLISHING CO.. INC.
Published Tuesdays & Thursdays at 2l3
East Montgomery Avenue by the Sen
tinel Publishing Co.. Inc. Cy M. Camp.
bell president
Entered as second class matter at the
Post Office al Rockville. Maryland. under
Act OF Congress, March 3 1873.
4sf
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Mail IN Maryland and the District OF
Columbia,
One Year ...........................-.. $500
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

he reign! - as Governor of a
Sovereign State! !! z!
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02

Washington Grove
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-02
Write TO Old Teacher

Ross C. Hurley
Evening star., 1961-01-12
LEScAL 900 cALORIE LIQUID

MADE WITH FRESH SKIM MILK leseo Liquid eccvoed eooies
liquid hot peoson and nvtono bccncsd Of
losing weight teco does contain reducing her drugs
provides q controlled eocvoted cooie intoke
daily diet Of using eosu place Of eoch meol end
at bedtime provides the following:
Evening star., 1961-01-12

MpAR- Minimum Dolly Adult Requirement.
sNeed nutrition sstsbishsd but no MoAG ssoeh'hss
ss- Iced ia humen established.
Evening star., 1961-11-05
Tar Heels Shun Tie
And Nip Vols, 22-21

CHAPEL HILL, N. c., Nov. 4
(AP).-Quarterback Ray Far
ris passed 28 yards for a touch
down and 2 yards for a 2-point
conversion in the last Is Sec
onds today, giving North Caro-
lima a 1921 triumph over Ten
nessee.
North Carolina drove 80
yards in the final 81 seconds
for the dramatic score that cli-
NAKED the aciton-packed in
terSectional thriller.
Farris, with the poise Of a
pro, led the Tar Heels from
their 20 to the Tennessee %
with the help of a 15-yard
roughing penalty, then pitched
from the % to Ward Marslen-
der, who clutched the ball in
the corner of the end zone.
The Tar Heels declined to
try for the 1-point conversion,
which would have meant a tie,
and went instead for 2 points
and victory. FarriS faded back
behind excellent protection and
found Glib Carson in the right
flat. Carson took the ball and
shot into the end zone.
Both teams, Tennessee from
the Southeastern Conference
and the Tar Heels of the At
lantic Coast Conference, came