leading research and science-industry areas. With $12 billion of federal
funds currently allocated to the support of research and development,
Washington, D. C., has become the world center of scientific effort. Its
proximity to the Maryland Science Complex has brought about a dra-
matic growth of private research and development companies in our
State. The range in activities in government laboratories includes almost
every area of science. Our success in maintaining this favorable com-
petitive position will depend largely upon the effort we make to expand
and improve our educational facilities, and in particular our colleges and
universities.

It is my hope that at its session next year the General Assembly will
move with dispatch to meet the challenge of public higher education.
As the Curlett Commission stated so well, no other function that your
State government performs is of so much importance as education, since
achievements in all other areas of endeavor ultimately depend upon the
success of the educational effort. The rewards of these efforts may be
measured not only in terms of the enrichment of the lives of our people,
but also in our economic and political survival.

Our problems in education of course are not confined to the area of
higher education. The urgent need for expansion and improvement
extends to our elementary and our secondary schools. During the past
four years, I have observed with considerable gratification the healthy
growth of our public school system in Maryland. Let me cite a few
figures which indicate the great strides we have made during the past
decade.

Ten years ago, 399, 050 students were enrolled in our public schools,
as compared with the present school population of 638, 675. During that
period, total State expenditure for public education increased from
$34, 683, 240 (in 1925) to $115, 026, 448 (in 1962). In other words, while
the number of students increased by only 62 per cent, State expendi-
tures more than tripled. Ten years ago, State appropriations for all
public education represented 43. 6 per cent of the general fund budget,
whereas today 54. 6 per cent of general fund appropriations is allotted to
education.

Maryland ranks high among the states in both the quantity and the
quality of the educational opportunities it offers its young people.

We are faced with gigantic problems in our efforts to expand our
educational program to meet the demands of the future. It is a situation
in which the people of this State are confronted with a great challenge.

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