Evening star., 1949-03-27
Higher Training
To Start in Fall
AtArmstrong
18th Grade Planned
First, With 14th
To Follow in 1850
BY Colt HendIey, Jr.

plans for. adding two years of
specialized technical training to
the regular three-year course at
Armstrong High School and the
program, first in the city, will
begin next fall.
DR.. Garnet C. Wilkinson. first
assistant school superintendent in
charge of colored schools, said
the 18th grade will be added in
September with complete offer
ings in IL technical fields. The
14th grade will be added in Sep
tember. 1850.
This program will turn the col
ored high school into a flve-year
secondary school instead Of the
three years used now in all others
in the city.
Becomes Technical School.
DR.. Wilkinson said the program
is natural elimination to the
changes made at Armstrong sew
eral years ago which turned it into
q full -fedged technical high school
rather than a manual training in
stitution. The graduating class
of $50 this June will be the first
students to have gone through this
new technical program.
About so of these graduates
have taken the college preparatory
course and it is assumed that the
majority of them will 60 on to
college, DR.. Wilkinson said. From
the remaining 200, the classes for
the 18th year will be drawn.
Francis A. Gregory, principal OF
Armstrong who has been active
in setting up the additional two
year program. said he was unable
to predict at this time just how
many of the graduates would
want to continue their training.
Also still undecided is just how
the extra classes will be fitted into
the schools already crowded
program.
Building Overcrowded.
1t may be that the classes can
be squeezed into the regular
hours of school, Mr.. Gregory said.
If not, then it may be necessary
to schedule them in the after
noon or evening.
DR.. Wilkinson said he realized
the program was being inaugu-
rated under great difficulties" in
the old Armstrong building which
now has san enrolment greater
than it's capacity. But it is an
essential program for the Negro
youths, he added. and it is felt 1t
should be started Immediately.
He explained that industry is
increasingly unable to absorb all
young men of 18 years and that
without sufficient training, the
Jobs offered are not what the
men want.
The training to be offered is not
on the college level, DR.. Wilkinson
explained, but specialized work,
on what is thought of as the high
school level. to fit the students
for much better type jobs IN IN
dustry.
New School Site Obtained.
The Board of Education has
obtained a site for a new Arm
strong High School in the Brent
wood Park area and Congress
previously has appropriated money
for plans. No funds for construc-
ton were requested in the 1850
budget because of Commission
ers' order banning requests for
new construction due to the city's
financial plight.
The training to be offered in
the extra two years will cover
these fields: Automotive, building
design and construction, indus
trial chemistry, commercial art,
drafting, electricity, graphic arts
and printing. stationary engineer
ing, music, clothing and foods.
The Board of Education has
approved introduction of the 18th
year and it is expected to approve
the additional 14th year when the
matter comes up.
DR.. George D. Strayer, who
made the discussed report
on school needs here. commended
the plans for adding the two
years of specialized technical
training at Armstrong.