Evening star., 1960-08-03
BY JOHN LAWSON
Star Stan Writer

The Fairfax School Board
gave its approval last night to
eliminate the division of classes
into first. second and third
grades in Is elementary
schools.
The board voted unanimously
to inaugurate the ungraded
program on an experimental
basis beginning this fall.
The program, which was in
troduced in two county schools
last year, is designed to make
it easier for children to progress
through the primary grades at
individual rates of learning"
School Sapt. w. T. Woodson
told the board.
Under the plan children
would move through eight
stages. instead Of grades. at a
speed geared to their own abili-
ties.
The Fairfax ungraded pri-
mary system will be the only
such program in widespread
use in the Metropolitan Area.
Several years ago, Arlington
abandoned a similar program.
under which children advanced
through the first three accord
ing to their individual abilities.
The "ungraded primary"
Technology was given up. ac-
cording to Mrs. Gennette N.Y.
gard. Arlington elementary
supervisor. because teachers
and parents found it difficult
to understand and interpret,
and because principals found it
difficult to administer.
School officials said, how
ever, that similar programs are
becoming increasingly popular
throughout the country.
Mr.. Woodson initially asked
the board to adopt a "permis-
sive policy" under which in
dividual schools could under
take the program after "a care
full study of the plan"
Board Chairman Theodore
S. Heriot, however, said that
the number of schools per-
mitted to attempt the program
should be limited.
Board member Waldron E.
Leonard said the program
would have to be sold to the
community" before its accept
ance.
Once the plan gets its foot
in the door," he said, lit could
be extended to the fourth.
fifth and sixth grades, and
higher" First, he added. school
officials should determine how
practical the program is.
His motion to limit the pro-
gram to Is schools was ap-
proved by the Board with the
restrictions that the schools be
representative in size and that
one school be chosen from each
of the county'S magisterial dis
tricts.
In other action the board ap-
proved a policy governing use
of public schools by churches,
civic groups, and private or
ganizations. The policy was a
revision of one adopted in June.
The new policy, approved in
advance by representatives of
churches, confines hurch
groups using elementary schools
to areas other than class rooms
unless there will be little "in-
convenience and disruption"
The earlier policy prohibited
use of elementary classrooms.
Churches may use school ia
cilities fer a maximum of three
years except that. "in the case
of proven hardship" the board
may grant two one-year ex-
tensions. Only one such ex-
tension was included in the
earlier rule.
The Board also cut it's sched-
ule of fees for churches in
half.
The policy also provides
free use of school facilities for
chool-connected groups but
calls for payments of custodial
fees for use of school buildings
by civic organizations and po-
litical and fraternal groups.
Private profit making groups
will have to pay custodial fees
as we'll as reasonable cost |
charges" ranging from $40 for
a class room to 5000 for su-
ditoriums.
Mr.. Woodson's salary was in