Parents, teachers, and others gather for the dedication of the 35th house built by Prince George's County Public School students.

Published on: Monday, May 10, 2010

By Judah Ari Gross

Prince George’s County Public School’s dedicated a new home built entirely by high school students Friday.

In 1981, the superintendent and board of education of PGCPS developed the Student Built House Program. This project would allow vocational students to take their studies further and have something to show for it at the end of the day, according to Marilynn Bland, Prince George’s County councilwoman.

The project is supported by the Foundation of Automotive and Construction Technology for Students. FACTS is run by a board of directors and purchases the land for the students to build on. They then sell the house to the general public.

This is the 35th house built by students and FACTS since the program’s inception, according to William Hite, superintendent of PGCPS.

Bland explained there is a thrill associated with laying the foundation to a house and then seeing the finished product. This gives the participants a real boost to their confidence, she said.

Studies conducted by the economist Steven Levitt show that vocational training makes students perform better in the rest of their academic lives.

The councilwoman, whether she was aware of these studies or not, agrees with them wholeheartedly. The skill set that these students acquired does not mean they cannot go to college, Bland said.

Instead, she sees their training, especially during our tough economic times, as a way to help pay for higher learning.

And indeed many students were presented with scholarships from FACTS at Friday’s event, some for as much as $1,500.

Though, State Senator Anthony Muse said, with these skills alone you can go far.

Muse, who spoke at the event, pointed out several local businesses that began with someone doing something simple they had picked up that boomed into large companies.

He also pointed out several inventions, including the rubber band and paper clip that were created by individuals with a certain skill set.

This one skill set can get you far, Muse said.

Hite looked to the enormous growth each of the students made.

“Some students may never have picked up a hammer before,” Hite said. Now they have built a house.

Robert Kight, a FACTS board member, discussed how impressed he was with the work of the female students in particular.

He spoke of a visit to the development site where he saw a group of female masonry students. He anticipated seeing them ask for help moving a pile of bricks around the house. To his surprise, however, they picked up the stacks and moved them.

Kight, and the rest of the board, is looking to expand the program. For the next house they hope “to involve web site design students” and art students.

This, Kight said, and Hite agreed, makes this “the ultimate project.”

Though, Bland says, the real heroes are the teachers. During the ceremony each of the assisting teacher’s was presented with an award for their service.

“The teachers, just from speaking with them, you can tell they are dedicated,” she said.