Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-05-23
The Public Forum

audience In my entire 6 year
music career. The audience
was a group of not more than
80 students of the Rock Ter
race School a heterogeneous
group of students of various
ages and races, with but one
common bond. They are all
mentally retarded. 1t was the
most heart-rending experience
of my life.
Next fall, the County Coun-
Gil, supported by your cores
pendent, "Contented Republi-
can" MAY 9 issue) and his
overtaxed, under conscienced
brethren, will close this school.
1t is considered a "frill." And
those students, some without
even basic coordination, will
be thrown out on the packed
classrooms of our regular
schools, where they will be rid
iculed by their classmates, and
even suffer physical torment
for fault not their own. More
Importantly, the increased
class load on their teachers
will preclude the individual at
tention which they now re-
ceive, and which could make
them into useful, If not bril-.
liant, citizens.
am extremely thankful that
the Montgomery County Sem
tineI is not contented with this
crime. Because that, Mr.. "Con-
tented Republican" is exactly
what this move amounts to.
1t is a crime. 1t is a sin. In
your selfish, egocentric desire
to save few tax dollars, you
are committing 30 innocent
children, who don't realize
what is happening, to a life
more wretched than you could
ever imagine. I would like to
invite this picture of content
ment to visit this school, and
see, as I did, the one thin little
boy with red hair and blue
eyes, who is so frightened Of
something that he sits and
stares into space until he
jumps at the first sound.
In addition to his motives
and his thought processes, I
question Mr.. &c. RS" facts. 1
wonder if he has tried lately
to pass the average high school
examinations in the subjects
which were, in his day college
algebra, college physics and
college English, and which
have enabled this county to
produce 10 of the IS Merit"
scholars from the State of
Maryland.
Parents could indeed teach
their children to drive, but the
insurance companies would
quickly wipe out by higher
rates, any tax savings, not
only to the parents, but ulti-
mately to all drivers in the
county, because of increased
accident rates due to unskilled
teaching.
I too, like your correspond
ent, can play several instru-
ments, one well enough to
have been named to the Mary
land All-State band. l too, can
sing - well enough to have
been invited to join an inter-
national choir, and to do sum-
mer stock in Maine. 1 also
know the cost. I pay So for a
half hour lesson. / am fortu-
nate to be able to do this. But
in the prize-winning band in
which l play, there are many
not so fortunate. They and 1
receive five hours per week
instruction free through our
fine school system. Financed
privately, this would bring my
total to S33 per week.
AS to the farcical statements
about foreign language, won
der if &C. R." has ever read
THE Ugly American" Remem-
Der, Mr.. Republican, that to
people of other countries, WE
are the foreigners.
Finally, Mr.. Content" just
what might shindigs" are you
referring to? What do you do
on Saturday night? Do you
study the classics? Do you at