The Daily Mail from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 3

THE DAILY MAIL, HAGERSTOWN, TUESDAY, 1 UK-UL The fety Of A Democracy Rests Upon An Enlightened Citizenry Thomas Jefferson Tomorrow a record enrollment of 13,000 boys and girls will enter the 45 elementary and high schools in Washington County. Two weeks later, additional high school graduates and ex-G. will begin their work in the Hagerstown Junior College. In some cases this will require teachers to instruct as many as 45 children in one class room, and in one instance two grades (the 8th and 9th at Washington Street) will be run on a two shift basis. Twenty-five of our schools will have four or less teachers.

But every child in Washington County between the age of six and twenty who is seeking an education will be given an opportunity to learn to become a better citizen. Over 425 teachers are ready to help in moulding the character and developing the abilities of our children. One in every five of these teachers will be new to the Washington County schools, coming from many states including Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey and New York. We wekome all our teachers and extend our best wishes for a successful year. We appreciate their work in the past and their service to the community.

We understand the financial sacrifice made by many, the difficulties of the newcomers in obtaining adequate housing, and the problem of teaching in overcrowded schools. We are happy to learn that more than one quarter of our teaching staff have spent at least 6 weeks this summer in graduate schools of education throughout this country and Mexico. Such travel and study make possible a more enriched program of education for our children. We note with satisfaction that during this summer of all classrooms in Washington County schools have been redecorated. This is unprecedented in this school system.

Though it will require annually the expenditure of twice the amount allowed for such purposes prior to this year, it is hoped the redecoration of the remaining classrooms will be completed within the next 3 years. We are pleased to leam that land has been purchased for 3 new schools, preliminary plans for the construction of which are already under way. This is a beginning toward the buildings and additions that are needed. The U. S.

Chamber of Commerce has recognized that, "if the people of the States want to hold their own in competition with other countries and to raise the level of living of our people, they should promptly attend to further substantial expansion of education and technical training and that even the most advanced communities in the United States would benefit by a great expansion of education and technical training." Realizing the value to the community of improved education, we note with gratification that the Board of Education is striving: 1. To lower the average number of students in each class 2. To increase teachers' pay in order to insure maintaining the excellence of our teaching staff and to obtain qualified replacements where necessary 3. To extend the opportunity for education to Junior College students and to Kindergarten pupils when possible 4. To overcome inadequate health and library facilities existing in many schools, and to develop a system of student guidance for all pupils 5.

To improve the transportation system by which 4,400 children daily travel to school on 52 school buses, involving in many cases a trip of over an hour to and from school 6. To redecorate and modernize present buildings and to plan for long needed additions and new structures "What the best and wisest parent wants for his child so must the community want for all its children" John Dewey. Future Of Washington County Lies In Its Youth This Message Is Sponsored By Local Business And Industry Employers Tomorrow of Today's School Children.