Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-04-18
Lower Quality Schools

Public education in Montgomery next school year will
be poorer thing 1t usty and fowardloodng at the
start of this school year We enjoyed national reputation
indeed the county with highest medan family income
($930O) of any county in the United States should
With the election in November of economy-minded
candidates for the School Board and County Council,
School Supt c. Taylor Whittier prepared budget of mini
NAL proportions to hold the line but not enough
for continuing improvement during the coming year. His
budget for school construction last year less than
onehaf of the amount approved for this year. His budget
to run the schools SIS million than the current
year but he knew there would be 5000 more children
knocking at the school systems door in September.
The new economy-mnded School Board increased DR..
Whittiers utra-conservatve schoolbuding budget by
$14 million and Topped off almost million dollars from
MS equally conservative budget to run the schools Then
the budgets went to the County Council for approval
Economy-minded County Councimen who had hurled
waste and extravaganza charges during their campaigns
were committed to budget cuts. They did their like
minded School Board colleagues found little waste and
extravaganza after taking office but they had promised
the electorate tax cut and they gmly determined
to make good on their pledge So they cut and cut And
they aided rather substantially by their inheritance
of SIS million surplus due to last years low estimates
on anticipated revenues &c. result of the 10cent
rate cut approved Monday the tax bills of many county
homeowners will be reduced by about $40 SIS They
may however find to their CONSERVATION that this minor
luxury given them at the expense of lower quality
education for their children
Here are few of the things that our 1876 public
schools, housing than 100000 children this fall will
School Board and the County Council
Only % new teachers this fall instead of the requested
~ to the burden of increased enrolment of 6OOO
eight area directors set up under the decentralization
plan now eliminated, IL fewer assistant principals
tailed driver education curtaent and in two years ei
nation OF the foreign language in elementary schools
program, reduction in summer workshops where educa
uona ideas and advancement discussed reduction in
constant fees purchase of fewer encyclopedias elimination
OF nine secondary counselors elimination of all interns an
eno 10 sabbatcas posponement by at least year Of
the urgently needed Montgomery Junior College campus
at Rockville cutting of four special supervisors in art and
music elimination of assistant director in business and
finance four staff development positions knocked off, six
positions eliminated in the diagnostc services center three
top positions in the office of international services wiped
out the rapidyexpanding evening high school eliminated
coordnator OF aferSchoo eliminated reduction of the
countrywide radio plan tied in with the county govern
mentS planned radio communications system for civil de-
tense and other emergency use, less of-couy travel
for personnel attending conferences reduction in incentive
awards hiring OF seven library aides instead of as many
teachers with library training, reduction in central office
furniture and equipment fewer central office supplies
Iewer school office supplies fewer Institutional supplies
fewer travelling teachers dscontinuance of keeping six
nigh school Libraries open four evenings week. and Others
Any school system expecting to achieve excellence in
eoucauon IN our dynamic age can do only by obtaining
the services OF an increasing number Of highly competent
persons who are in short supply in education as well as in
many other fields" Dr. Whittier wrote recently in con-
nection with his budget And he added: 1.-THE beneficial
effects OF highly competent personnel are cumulative so
win increasing force each succeeding year. Montgomery
county is looked upon having one of the outstanding
scnool systems in the country and which many nstu-
tons OF higher education recommend to their most prom
sing graduates We do not want to impair the present
favorable position but rather nurture it so that Montgo-
cry County continues to grow in reputation as place
where the most able school people seek employment"
These are wise and true words and is to be regretted
that the School Board and the County Council did not paw
them more heed The quality of education has been i'm
paired with this new budget despite the ratonalzaons
tnat VIII oe offered by those who reay they honest
with themselves moivated by their interest in
tne dollar than they are in quality public education
1t is now up to the School Board which, as some have
correctly pointed out did nothing press mitanty for
approval of their mnimal budget request to live within
tne restrictions imposed by itself and the County Council
SO tnat the least possible damage done to the countys
children 1t will not be easy but try hard they must
Meanwhile it is to be hoped that during the coming
year both citizens and newy-eeced public officials will
come to the realization that you get only what you pay
Tor And that every adult in Montgomery County with
cnoren IN public school is willing to shoulder the tax
burden necessary for superior education.