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DELEGATE WHEATLEY: Mr. Chair-
man, I yield five minutes to Delegate Sos-
nowski.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Sosnowski.
DELEGATE SOSNOWSKI: Mr. Chair-
man, section 5 allows each local govern-
mental unit through a referendum to de-
termine whether the school board shall be
elected or appointed..
Although this section is free, it repre-
sents a nucleus of the cells of education
in our State, the nucleus being the local
school board.
The vitality of that cell determines the
vitality of education. There should be no
doubt as to the power of each subdivision
to determine what kind of cell will survive
and grow best in the environment presented
by that particular local governmental unit.
This section does not advocate elected
school boards nor does it advocate ap-
pointed school boards. This section does
something far more significant than rec-
ommend one type of selection over another.
Rather than that, it gives to the people
of each local governmental unit the pre-
rogative to make that decision for them-
selves. It gives them the right to decide
for themselves just what type of school
board will best serve their need.
This Convention has discussed at length
and has pretty well gone on record as ad-
vocating stronger local government. The
adoption of section 5 would certainly be
a step in that direction, allowing each unit
of local government the right to decide
the manner by which its school board is
selected or elected.
It is the realistic way in which this Con-
vention might help local governments to
strengthen themselves. It is wrong for this
body or any body to dictate to every unit
of local government throughout the State
the type of school board it must have. This
would leave no room for the expression of
differences that exist in local government.
It would place all local government in a
straight jacket of sameness, leaving them
unable to decide for themselves what is best
for themselves.
This Convention can have no more nobler
purpose than outlining a structure of edu-
cation so that all the citizens of the State
of Maryland can realize their full potential,
thus allowing the State of Maryland to
realize its full potential.
In closing, I would like to quote the late
John F. Kennedy quoting H. G. Wells.
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"Civilization is a race between education
and catastrophy." It is up to you to de-
termine the winner.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Lord.
For what purpose does Delegate Mason
rise?
DELEGATE MASON: Mr. Chairman, I
suggest the absence of a quorum.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Clerk will ring
the quorum bell. Keep it ringing, please.
All right.
The absence of a quorum has been sug-
gested.
Roll call.
Have all delegates answered roll call?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the roll call and
also record Delegate James Clark present.
A quorum being present, the Chair rec-
ognizes Delegate Lord.
DELEGATE LORD: Mr. Chairman, I
will yield three minutes to Delegate Lucille
Maurer.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Maurer.
DELEGATE MAURER: Mr. Chairman,
I believe that the matter of the govern-
ments of local school systems should be left
to the General Assembly to be covered by
law. While I actually agree with the sub-
stance of the majority view and I even
appreciate particularly their concern and
interest and effort with respect to local
school board members, we sometimes feel
as if we are forgotten even until we are
out on the local school board matters, but
I support the minority amendment not just
because this is something that is unspecific.
It is specific in the Majority Report and in
fact it would be rather helpful if it were
just a matter of being in the constitution
for a few years. I see a conflict arising in
the next few years as to whether local
school boards should be governed by char-
ter or by state law and I hope it is a con-
flict which will be resolved in favor of
state law. Nevertheless, I feel that we are
preparing a constitution not for the next
five years, not even for the next ten years,
but for the long haul, and therefore I came
to the conclusion that it would be better not
to freeze the form of governments at the
local level into the constitution and I would
suggest that we support the minority
amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Wheatley.
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