Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-07-03

Enforced delay in the effective date of the school
primary BILL result of the successful petition
drive for referendum, will not work hardship any
and in fact may well prove to be constructive help
full development.
1t difficult last winter to understand the haste
with which the Republican majority the legislative
delegation pursued the enactment of such legislation.
True in the COP platform but other pledges
they seemingly in no hurry to carry out.
Our objection to such hasty enactment, as stated
at the time, the limited scope of the bill Fifteen years
have elapsed since the county became the first Maryland
county elect its school board and possibly pointed
out the time has to have long, hard look at
the whole procedure of selecting school board members
+ Should they, actually, be elected or would perhaps
going back to the appontive method be better? If they
are appointed by whom should they be named the County
Council or the governor?
I What about the present method of staggering
bershp 43 basis? Certainly since last November
when four inexperienced members became the board
majority school system has been racked with
troversy There has been complete lack of continuity
which is always conducive to smoother, effective
performance Was it really fair to the new majority to
saddle it with the job of adopting sos million school
budget within few weeks after its election? Would not
perhaps arrangement of staggering members a 2
80 basis be somewhat beneficial to the school
system?
And what about the school primary bill itself? Are
nonpotica types emnenty qualified to set school policy
going to submit to the rigors-and expense-of two
pagn for both the primary and general elections? Some
will, perhaps. We certain others will not.
Also puzzlng the apparent indifference of Re-
publican party leaders to the stated opposition to the
school primary bill of such important county groups
the Montgomery Civic Federation, the American ASSOC
iaton of University Women, the Allied Civic Group the
Committee for the Public Schools, and the Montgomery
County Council Of Parent Teacher Associations Does the
concerted opposition of these groups-as clearly shown
by their having collected than 10000 signatures
to force the bill to referendum nothing to the
newly-elected administration?
Also, have pointed out previously, the goal that
is sought by the school primary bill election of board
members by majority rather than plurality of votes
achieved in the last school election Four candidates
of philosophy squared off against four members
of opposing philosophy and in each case the winner
was elected by majority VOTE
BY forcing the bill to referendum in November 1864,
the countys civic groups have performed fine public
service in that their action makes possible to study
the many important questions involved the next year.
A study unit will soon be created by the MCCPTA
and confident their efforts to resolve of the
questions will be considerably extensive than
those of the COP campaign platform draers last
There will also be great deal of public discussion of the
questions during the enforced delay And public discussion
of major issues is always healthy Thegroups and ndivd
ua responsible for the successful petition drive deserve
vote of thanks from the public.