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even fare as well with its present organization as it
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might : why not?
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3
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"A few words suffice to explain. Public educa-
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tion in Maryland is 'in politics." Politics are apt to
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prevent the State Board from acting with vigor; to deter-
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mine the composition of the county boards; to affect the
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choice of the county superintendents; even to enter into
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the selection of the one-room rural schoolteacher. Of
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9
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course, there are exceptions. Some of the county boards
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are excellent; some schools are entirely free from politica
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taint. But, in general, political and personal consider-
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ations impair the vigor, independence, thoroughness, and
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efficiency of the school system. The public does not
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begin to realize the seriousness of the political infec-
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15
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tion or the damage it does."
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16
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Some of you will remember the late Marie Bauern-
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schraidt who led the fight to free the schools of Baltimore
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City from political control. This was such a difficult tasl
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and so long delayed that Mrs. Bauernschmidt became an erst-
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while political leader in her own right.
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In discussing with Mr. Case the guarantee of
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