Your editorial of June 16 is extremely alarming. It concerns the Howard County Board of Education's censoring of member Allen Dyer and their request for his removal. I found your support, which borders on a tribute to his actions, very disturbing.

The board has accused Mr. Dyer of disseminating private information and furthermore of bringing numerous lawsuits against his colleagues on the board because they disagree with him. Mr. Dyer readily agrees that these charges are true. However, he irresponsibly claims the right to do so on the basis that all actions of the board should be taken in public.

These claims are made despite the fact that certain procedures are prohibited by the state, not by local government, and can only be modified by state government. These regulations were put in place because the legislature believed that in certain situations private negotiations would promote the common good.

To what good purpose should negotiations on, let us say, land acquisition be conducted in public. Would public wrangling over price, or over demands for concessions by either party lead to better outcomes? Should staff situations be discussed in public, allowing one's personal concerns or dilemmas to be open to all other citizens?

Who would profit from such free-wheeling discussions? Who would benefit from having unfettered access to private information of individuals and institutions?

Mr. Dyer has offered no other innovative proposals to improve the delivery of or improvement of the educational process. This is what the Board of Education is all about. This is what his job is all about. He has put forth his demands without offering the slightest justification or evidence that the system would be improved in any way.

Your support of his ideas has no foundation or justification. Perhaps you can offer us stronger reasons for your stance on this issue.

Marjorie Gardner

Ellicott City