Subject: Educationpage 6

Lakelander yearbook

Robert Ridgely Gray

Jeffrey Briscoe, Douglas Few, James Gray, and George Randall were Lakeland’s favorite sons in 1971, when they led Parkdale High School’s Panthers to a state basketball title. Briscoe, Gray, and Randall were members of the first class of Lakeland students to attend the new high school. They had sharpened their skills in Lakeland’s schoolyard and as teammates at Greenbelt Junior High School.

Lakelander yearbook

At the time of these progress reports Lakeland ES was segregated. Located on 54th and Lakeland, right across the railroad tracks. The principal at the time of Ms. Gross K year was Edgar Smith. Smith was principal from about 1928 when school opened to about 1968. Smith not native of Lakeland. This report contains Delphine's grades - she was a fairly good, fairly average student in kindergarten. There were no comments from her teacher or parent - she was assigned to continue to the first grade.,

Lakelander yearbook

More diploma awardings and scholarship presentations.

Miss Norris's pre-kindergarten class of 1974-1975, at Paint Branch Elementary School

Lakeland schools supplemented academic activities with variety shows that helped children develop performance skills and confidence in public speaking. In 1953, students at Lakeland Elementary School performed a Tom Thumb wedding, inspired by the song “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” from the 1929 film The Broadway Melody. The school’s presentation included Lakeland boys and girls, as well as those who attended the school from other communities along U.S. Route 1.

Reunion trip of Lakeland High School class of 1950 to Wildwood NJ

More faculty. Some photos are marked with an asterisk - Marie Hall, William Freeman, Leroy Gaskin, James King, Girlever Ginyard, and Myrtle A. Fentress.

Lakeland High School class of 1950 reunion trip to Wildwood NJ

Edgar A. Smith Scholarship document; typed on a typewriter; scholarship established before invention of computers. The scholarship was organized by Lakeland High school last class, but they wanted to include other schools. They traveled to Upper Marlboro Legal Library to research and structure the scholarship, eventually getting it incorporated. Each year, the committee reviewed applications with the goal to distribute $2,000 to high school students for college costs; recipients were from the towns of Fairmont Heights, Bowie, Laurel, and Muirkirk. School desegregation impacted the group of recipients.

For most of a century, only African-American students attended school in Lakeland. In 1956, two years after the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional, the Prince George’s County Board of Education enacted a plan to impede the integration of schools. The first white students did not attend Lakeland Elementary School until the late 1960s. They were few in number. The board of education resisted desegregation for decades, despite the struggle by Lakeland residents and others for integrated schools and public facilities. Nevertheless, desegregation progressed intermittently until court-ordered programs began in 1973. Pictured in this photograph taken during the 1966-67 school year is Lakeland Elementary School’s fourth and fifth grade class with Mr. Ford.

At the time of these progress reports Lakeland ES was segregated. Located on 54th and Lakeland, right across the railroad tracks. The principal at this time was Edgar Smith. Smith was principal from about 1928 when school opened to about 1968. Smith not native of Lakeland. Kindergarten progress report for Maxine Gross from Lakeland Elementary - her grades were very good this year. There are various comments - all to the effect that Maxine is making great progress in school. Brief overview of the subjects covered during the school year, as well as the days absent. Maxine only missed one day.

Students walk into Paint Branch Elementary, the result of lobbying for an integrated elementary school by Lakelanders and other community members.

Lakelander Yearbook

Lakeland Elementary School at that time the school served grades to 6. They are shown with the teachers for each of two classrooms. Higher grades were served at Lakeland High School

Haliburton and Essex family photos.

The administrative faculty - James Gholson, Lorenza Robinson, Eugene Curry, C. Baltimore, and A. Crutchfield. Robinson and Gholson signed over their photos, Gholson including a note reading "The very best for you!"

Lakelander Yearbook

Kindergarten class of Lakeland Elementary School at University of Maryland animal barn during 1965-66 School year

Lakelander yearbook

Lakeland schools supplemented academic activities with variety shows that helped children develop performance skills and confidence in public speaking. In 1953, students at Lakeland Elementary School performed a Tom Thumb wedding, inspired by the song “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” from the 1929 film The Broadway Melody. The school’s presentation included Lakeland boys and girls, as well as those who attended the school from other communities along U.S. Route 1

Reunion Event of Lakeland High School class of 1950

Robert Ridgley Gray had a stellar career as an educator and civic leader. Born in 1910, he was the eighth child of James H. and Eliza E. Gray. In his unpublished memoir, Gray wrote: “In 1934, I had the honor of opening an eight–room school in Fairmount Heights. … At that time, this was the largest school in the state … built primarily for elementary education.” Gray served his country during World War II. In January 1946, he returned to the school and served as principal there until his 1970 retirement. In 1964, he chaired a bi-racial committee studying the problems of integration in Prince George’s County’s public schools. From 1977 to 1989, Gray was mayor of Fairmount Heights, Maryland. In 2001, a new county elementary school was named for him.

School picture of Lakeland student, Mary Day from 1946-47 school year

The left is another Shakespeare quote superimposed upon a photo of clouds, titled 'Seniors.' Opposite is a list of students, their nickname, their ambition, and the clubs they were active in. Some have signed over their photo.

Presentation of video report from research done in partnership with University of Maryland class and Lakeland Community Heritage Project.

Fifth Grade at College Park Elementary School