|
DELEGATE PULLEN: I stand upon
that, and I give you as my argument the
facts that I just gave you comparatively.
Comparatively the provision of education —
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Pullen, this
time is precious.
DELEGATE PULLEN: I realize that,
sir. I apologize.
Let us come back to the statement. You
have the compliment of the report that the
State Board has operated well, but free
from politics. May I ask you, in writing
your argument, did you realize that in 1864
the Constitution of Maryland provided for
a State Board of Education and a state
superintendent, and that they were both
abolished by another Constitutional Con-
vention in 1867, which was called rather
conveniently, and further that there was
no State Board of Education, and the state
superintendent was abolished in 1868, one
year later, that there was no state super-
intendent as an individual office until 1900
and then only in a minor way; and further,
that the State Board of Education and the
state superintendent were more or less
impotent until 1920? Did you realize that
when you wrote your report? This was
fifty- three years, Delegate Lord.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Pullen.
DELEGATE PULLEN: We have waited
here three months.
THE CHAIRMAN: Let us confine our-
selves to questions.
DELEGATE PULLEN: Excuse me.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Lord.
DELEGATE LORD: I was certainly
aware of the bulk of that, and I am glad
that you completed my history on the sub-
ject. I do not see that this is relevant at all.
I think all educators from the state system
and the local system in this State that ap-
peared before our Committee testified that
the system has worked well. We agree. We
also agreed with the great bulk, and I
must say that this is being favorable to
the majority because I do not remember
any such witnesses testifying that the sec-
tion had to be five times as long as the
existing language and also roughly five
times as long as the language in the draft
constitution.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mentzer.
DELEGATE PULLEN: One more
question.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Pullen, no,
sir. The Chair will recognize you if there
|
is any time. The other delegates are en-
titled to their questions also. Delegate
Mentzer.
DELEGATE MENTZER: Delegate Lord,
my question may be irrelevant, and it may
even be improper. I am not sure if you
are married or not, but do you have any
children in the public schools of Maryland?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Lord.
DELEGATE LORD: The answer is no.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Frank
Robey.
DELEGATE ROBEY: Delegate Lord,
for the record, the present Constitution of
Maryland states that the General Assembly
shall provide by law for a thorough and
efficient school system throughout the State.
The Majority Report uses the phrase, "the
General Assembly shall provide for a state-
wide system." However, the commission
draft says that "the State shall provide,"
and I notice in the minority that you also
used the term "the State shall provide."
I wish you would explain the difference
as you see them between the two terms.
DELEGATE LORD: I will certainly try
to do that.
In coming up with the language, we read
carefully the debates of the Commission
on this subject, and the report of miscel-
laneous provisions committee, when it
reached the full Convention, and it had the
language, "the General Assembly shall pro-
vide by law."
On a motion, the word State was sub-
stituted, and this motion carried twenty
votes to one vote; and the basis, in the
discussion, was that education really is a
state responsibility and not a responsibility
only of the General Assembly.
Some thought that if the language, "Gen-
eral Assembly", were left in this would not
be made clear.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Robey.
DELEGATE ROBEY: The second ques-
tion which also borders on the nature of
being for the record, is that you and I have
had discussion in the last few days about
one specific phrase which I think many of
us in this Committee were very much inter-
ested in, and yet I did not hear you say
anything about whether or not you intend
to include that particular phrase, "a gov-
erning board appointed by the governor."
I wish you would comment on it now for
the record, please.
|
