Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-03

years IN elementary school an
program divided into six yeal
Junior high, and three of senio
high.
The suggestion comes at a tim,
when the county is on the verg'
Of letting contracts for three biz
new high schools-Munson Hill
Franconia Springfield an {
Vienna. 1t also comes at a tim,
when Gov. Stanley has men
toned the possibility of eliminat.
ing the eighth grade altogether
as an economy move and return.
Ing to an l1-year school system
which would rule out Junior high
school altogether.
Most in Arear on 6-3-3
Most school systems in tn,
District area already operate {
6-3-3 system. These include tn,
District. Montgomery, Prince
Georges and Arlington Counties
Only Alexandria still operates (
Us system.
The committee report recon
mending the change-over hai
been submitted to the Fairfax
County School Board. One mem
Der Of the committee. Harle,
williams, representing the Vir,
ginia Citizens Committee TO
Better Schools. has offered /.
minority report questioning tn,
wisdom Of such a shift. Here arr
some Of the major points raiset
on the two sides of the question
which the school board even,
tually must decide:
FOR
The junior high program be
gan in 1907. when a committe,
Of educators recommended tina
the old ga system used in mos
of the United States be replaced
with a 6-3-3 system. BY 1920, S.
school systems had shifted to thu
6-3-3 setup and today some $500
school systems have done so.
Separate junior high schools
give teachers their best oppor
tunity to meet the special need
Of the adolescent child. The.
give children an opportunity Il
explore different fields beforl
choosing a definite curriculum il
senior high school.
Seventh graders need NOR
elaborate facilities. more inten
sive and specialized curriculums
and more counseling and guild
ance than younger student
through the sixth grade.
Leading educators in Fairfa,
County are almost unanimous Il
recommending that elementar,
grades and with the sixth grade
They believe the span from frs
TO seventh grades is TO wide I,
be housed in one school unit.
Advantages Seen
There are certain advantage
q student enjoys by being
senior within a school unit.
child becomes a senior" thre'
times in the 6-3-3 system, which
offers one additional chance Il
develop and experience leader
ship.
BY Withdrawing the eighth ant
ninth grades from senior higl
school, a more mature and edu
cationally receptive student bod.
is left in the senior high school
educators claim, resulting in |
general improvement in stand
ards Of education and social con
duct in the high school.
A 6-3-3 system can be put int,
effect most economically in
rapidly growing community
where 1t is necessary to bull,
new schools anyhow. Junior higl
schools do not require as elabo
rate facilities as senior higl
schools. Construction OF JUNO
high schools therefore, would re
duce the number OF senior higl
schools the county needs.
AGAINST
According to Mr.. William:
nothing considered by the com
mittee showed that student
learn any more under one pla
of school organization tina
another.
There are indications the jun
for high school trend" is abou
to end. In 1855, the Hawa'
Branch OF the American Asso
citation OF University Women is
sued a report on the Hawaiial
public school system which rec
commended that all high school
operate on a four-year system
CThis assumes an 8-4 operation.
Some reasons given by othe
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