Evening star., 1941-02-12
Budget TO Build
New Schools
Cut 70 S415,O0O
Action Deferred on
Proposed 6-3-3 Plan
For Prince Georges


UPPER MARLBORO, Md, Feb.
the proposed 6-3-3 plan for the
Prince Georges County school syS-
tenn, the county commissioners yes
terday pared the Board of Educa-
tion's new S1,059,000 building budget
to S415 900, with the possibility Of an
increase to $500, 900 if necessary.
The 6-3-3 plan calls for six years
of elementary school, three of junior
high school and three of senior high
school. At present the county sys-
tenn consists of seven elementary
grades and four years Of high school.
Chief item in the building pro-
gram accepted by the commission
ers is 100000 consolidated"
junior senior high school to be
built at T. B. Inclusion of the
item in the program by the commits
sioners was described by County
School Supt. Nicholas Orem as "one
of the most progressive Prince
Georges County educational steps
in a decade"
The building budget as modified
yesterday will be discussed at a con-
ference between the county COM
miSSioners and the county's leglsla-
tive delegation at a meeting at An
napolis tomorrow evening. The new
building program must be approved
by legislative action which would
authorize q bond issue for the pur-
pose.
Statewide Basis Possible.
In connection with the 6-3-3 plan,
which was submitted along with the
building program. it is understood
that the commissioners feel that re-
organization of the local school sys-
tenn should not be attempted unless
the plan is adopted on State
wide basis.
The commissioners decided to with
hold their decision after hearing
Mr.. Orem condemn the present
school setup and charge that coun-
" high schools fail TO appeal to the
interests and talents of students or
prepare them for anything.
Mr.. Orem said that only Is per
cent of the county's high school
graduates 20 on to college This, ne
added. is an obvious example OF the
need for a more diversified high
school curriculum, particularly along
vocational lines.
In addition. Mr.. Orem declared
that Prince Georges high schools
are the only ones in areas surround
ing Washington which have not
adopted the 6-3-3 plan, adding that
only four States in the Union DO
not use this system. He declared
that adoption of the plan would be
tremendous benefit to the county
itself.
Sees Start to Vacations.
Present vocational training facfl-
tiles in the high school are of a mere
exploratory" nature, he continued.
Admitting that more intensive voca-
tional training cannot fully prepare
students for a trade. Mr.. Orem said
that at least 1T would start them
on their way"
The new high school for the
southern area of the county would
involve conversion of the Brandy
wine and Baden High Schools into
siX-year elementary schools. Descrlb-
ing the need for the new school, Mr..
( Orem said that present high schools
in this area have too small enroll
ments to offer a diversity of sub
iects. The new building would con-
template a larger enrolment and
would thus allow for larger teach
ing staff.
Projects besides the new T. B.
item tentatively accepted in the
new budget are: Forestville, eight
! classrooms and auditorium, $685.
900; Takoma Park. four class
rooms and auditorium. $4,000;
Lanham, eight classrooms and au-
ditorium to house pupils now
in Lanham and BladenSburg schools,
s65,OOO Riverdale. new building in
Wildecroft. $4,000 Gtem raised from
s25 900 addition: Bladensburg (col-
ored). three classrooms. $4,000;
Brentwood (colored), first unit OF
brick building, $4,000 Gtem reduced
from S5O.0OO); Oxon Hill (colored).
! four clasSroomS, now building,
$4,000. and Bradbury Highs, six
classrooms. S45 900.
Items cut from the building
budget and deferred we're: Highland
Park, four classrooms and auditor
ium. $4,000: Brentwood Mount
Rainier. 20 classrooms. auditorium
and cafeteria, 100000; Oxon Hill,
four classrooms and cafeteria,
$4,000; Brandywine, four class
rooms and auditorium (sup-
planted by new T. B. proiect),
$4,000: SurrattSville. four class
rooms. $4,000: Hyattsville (elemen-
tary). 10 classrooms and auditorium,
$4,000: Fairmont Heights, four
classrcoms and basement, S25 900.
Lakeland High School (coloredl.
classrooms and auditorium. $4,000:
Chapel Hill Ccolored), two-room
frame building $4,000; Suitland
six classrooms and auditorium IL
frame building is to be abandoned
S55 900; Landover Hills, eight class.
rooms and auditorium, s65 900 ana
Hyattsville High School, addition
SIPS 900.
In connection with the s-3-a
plan. the board in it's PROPOSAL
pointed out that a study of the
county's school needs had been
made by experts of the Universitu
of Maryland's school of education
Among the recommendations mada
were adoption of the 6-3-3 nIar
Details of the study will be n,oda ~
public later. "Oe