Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-14
BUDGET
Continued From Page Al

ton will climax weeks Of fiscal
studies by the Republican ma
jority elected on an economy
platform last November.
In their final computations,
they will be working on the
premise that each cent on the
tax rate is equivalent to 1884,
900. and that the county's as
sessable base is expected to
climb another 81 million to a
total of SIG billion.
John F. Briggs. the Councils
top fiscal advisor, yesterday
recommended that $408, 1000 Of
the SIS million school surplus
be used for homecoming items,
leaving about $1.1 million that
could be applied to either school
operations or construction.
Elimination Of the 200 teach
ing positions the School Board
planned to fill next year to
meet increased enrolment and
to staff new classrooms was
strongly opposed by school per-
sonnet. They insisted 1t would
hurt teacher-pupil ratios, elm
mate some courses in secondary
schools, and reduce the number
of small classes for slow learners.
Based on enrolment figures,
Mr.. Briggs said his recommen-
dalton would result in q 28-to-l
ratio in elementary schools and
25-to-l in secondary schools.
He said figures proposed in
the requested School Board
budget showed q ratio Of 28.5-
toll in elementary schools and
one secondary teacher for every
23.4 or "a students.
P.T.A. Spokesman Objects
Willard Cas-, president of the
County Council Of Parent
Teacher Associations, said after
the council acted that the cut
in the number Of teachers
showed "callous disregard for
the children Of our county by
the majority Of the County
Council"
There are already 451 sec
ondary school classes in Eng
lish, mathematics, science and
social studies, that exceed the
recommended size by more than
10 students per class, Mr.. Cas-
said.
The action taken by the
council disregards the judy
ment Of the newly elected
school board and g. will
greatly increase the number of
classes in which the pupil
teacher ratio is too large for
effective instruction" Mr.. Cass
said.
Minutes after the councils
action, q representative of the
county's Democratic Precinct
chairmen, workers and club
presidents group also issued a
statement criticizing the cut,
saying the teachers should have
been paid with the school sur
plus money.
DR.. Thomas M. Wilson, a
Republican. said he would
rather see the elimination of
teacher positions done grad
ually and voted against the
proposal along with Democrats
Jerry Williams and Grover K.
Walker. But the motion was
approved by o Republican bloc
Of Council president John A.
Floyd, Miss Kathryn Diggs,
Mrs. Mary Hepburn, and John
H. Hiser.
Cites Nuisance Chores"
DR.. Wilson said he preferred
that a school-by-school study
be made first to see If the i'm
pact would force some classes
in remote rural areas to double
up. or If any scarcity Of teach
ers would prompt schools to
eliminate science classes.
In casting her vote, Miss
Diggs said that teachers will
be perfectly able to handle
larger classes If they are not
burdened with nuisance"
chores such as Critical and
creative thinking work shops"
A former high school. teacher
who taught students five or
six years younger than herself,
Miss Diggs said an instructor