Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1813

system. And I am not going to be one to resist that expectation.
We must make it so."

In striving to accomplish his aims, Dr. Sheldon developed a well
organized school system in which he tried to push the decision
making out to the local level. He believed strongly in community
involvement and he got parent groups interested in such subjects
as budget making and construction planning; he felt that the school
system was accountable to the public; and he strove to get principals,
staff and parents together to devise programs to meet their indi-
vidual school and neighborhood needs.

Dr. Sheldon implemented the same curriculum and teaching
methods for black and white children alike, but at the same time he
recognized the value of black history and black culture courses.

The position of superintendent of a school system as large as
the Baltimore system necessarily involves innumerable complex prob-
lems, and conflict is inevitable. But the fact remains that, during
his tenure, Dr. Sheldon accomplished many things which were of
value to the school system. He pushed for racial integration on all
levels of the school system, school construction increased during his
tenure, state-funded transit rides were provided to 50,000 Baltimore
school children, the free lunch program was greatly expanded, train-
ing programs to qualify neighborhood mothers as teacher aides were
implemented, school textbooks were improved, and he strove to
achieve a more flexible school calendar by moving toward year-round
schools.

A list of Dr. Sheldon's accomplishments is necessarily incomplete,
but Baltimore has benefitted from his services for the past two and
one-half years, and his talents will be sorely missed; now, therefore,
be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That this Body
congratulates and commends Dr. Thomas D. Sheldon for his achieve-
ments as Superintendent of the Baltimore City School System, and
wishes him continued success in the future; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the State of Maryland is directed
to send copies of this Resolution under the Great Seal of the State
of Maryland to the Baltimore City Board of Education, and to Dr.
Thomas D. Sheldon.

Approved May 6, 1971.

No. 12
(Senate Joint Resolution 35)

Senate Joint Resolution requesting a study of the real estate broker-
investor and recommendations for legislation on matters relating
thereto.

Whereas, one of the major problems facing the residents of urban
areas is neighborhood stabilization; and