Anybody out there want to rethink middle schools?
Regular Get Schooled readers know that I have doubts about the efficacy of the middle school model.
Despite decades of experimentation and refinement, middle school still doesn’t work in most places, leading me to conclude that the problem is not with the execution of the concept but with the concept itself.
In 2011, a Harvard study found that students moving from fifth grade to a middle school setting suffer a sharp drop in academic performance in reading and math, compared to peers who attend k-8 schools. The findings of the Harvard study confirmed an earlier Columbia University study.
Writing in Education Next, Harvard researchers Martin West and Guido Schwerdt explained:
Our results cast serious doubt on the wisdom of the middle-school experiment that has become such a prominent feature of American education. We find that moving to a middle school causes a substantial drop in student test scores (relative to that of students who remain in K–8 schools) the first year in which the transition takes place, not just in New York City but also in the big cities, suburbs, and small-town and rural areas of Florida.
Further, we find that the relative achievement of middle-school students continues to decline in the subsequent years they spend in such schools. Nor do we find any sign that the middle-school students catch up with those who remained in the K–8 environment once all of them have entered high school. On the contrary, students entering a middle school in grade 6 are more likely not to be enrolled in any Florida public school as 10th graders (despite having been enrolled in grade 9), a strong indication that they have dropped out of school by that time.
A local middle school teacher came to a similar conclusion about sending kids off to middle school after fifth grade. The teacher sent me this note asking how to start a discussion in the community about changing the grades configuration.
Here is her note. Let’s start that discussion:
<blockquote>I have been a middle school teacher for nearly 20 years and have gradually come to the conclusion that the middle school model does not work.
I’ve worked in DeKalb, Fulton and APS, and none of my schools used the true “teams” model with interdisciplinary themed units that we planned for in college.
I grew up in DeKalb in the 70s and have wonderful memories of my elementary school years and of staying there through the seventh grade. It is so sad now to see little sixth grade children in our building alongside, sometimes, 15-year-olds. They do not belong together.
I’ve looked at some of the research, and the majority seems to suggest that sixth grade students should be kept in elementary schools. Most of the studies cite discipline issues, but I feel that there is more to it: socially, it’s such an important age, as well as academically.
I wonder if there is a way to get people to start seriously rethinking the whole middle school concept, or at least the age groups within middle schools.</blockquote>
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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141 comments Add your comment
Ray
March 12th, 2013
1:41 pm
@bu2: I hear you that maybe you could do a gradual conversion with some real long term planning. I’d like to see K-8 tried in a few places and see how it goes. I think 900 student elementary schools may be getting too big, but 900 student K-8’s, if done right, might work. The problem would be converting all those 500-600 student capacity K-5’s, of which there seem to be many, to something that can be a K-8. Many of the K-5 sites would not be big enough to be converted to a K-8.
Short of mass conversions, yes, some changes in how middle schools function could help — less interaction between grades (already being done many places), less passing between classes and more time with good “homeroom” teachers might help. But I think the biggest thing is not throwing 600 to 1,000+ middle schoolers, who are coming from different schools, all together into one school. Not sure how you do that.
Matt321
March 12th, 2013
1:49 pm
I went to school at a K-5, then went to middle school for 6-8, then high school for 9-12.
Burn middle school to the ground. No one wants to be there. It’s a misery for everyone involved. I am for anything that involves getting rid of it. Getting rid of an extra layer of administration and the extra buses etc. needed for the schools is a bonus.
DeKalb County Grad
March 12th, 2013
1:55 pm
At age 12, boys should go to a military school and girls should go to a convent. I taught middle school after teaching in high school. It was Hormonal Hell. The problem is the curriculum. They “dumb down” the subject matter treating their brains like elementary school students when they are capable of more. Parents abandon middle school thinking their job is done once they no longer have to hold their children’s hands when they cross the street. Drugs, sex and alcohol are the main downfall of middle school students as they try to look grown-up. Parents need to be there watching and supporting teachers. The curriculum needs to challenge their brains. They should be required to be involved in physcial sports/community work to keep their bodies going and too tired to get in trouble. Chess Club, Drama, Chorus, Tennis, Track – it is all important and it all should be piled high upon them to keep them focused on school work rather than boobs and bods. Teachers should be allowed to developing engaging and creative course work and activities rather than government inspired cookie cutter testing requirments and activities. The only way to survive is to demand more of students academically and physically, demand more of parents to be involved and demand that teachers be given more lee-way to creating courses of interest for this unique group.
Fred ™
March 12th, 2013
1:56 pm
What about the format that my daughters school uses?
Primary School: PK-3
Lower School: 4-6
Middle School: 7-8
Upper School: 9-12
How does that do over all/ Obviously it works in her school, but a private school has different factors. How would it work in a public school? I went to so many different schools growing up thta I actually kid of experience three models. I was in a K-8 school until I moved and was in a middle schpool for 8th grade, (just ignored the 5th and 6th graderds lol). Then I moved again and was in a Jr. High for 9th grade (7-9). After that I was in high school. Since I experienced all three models but none of them in the “traditional’ manner I cant’ really give a good viewpoint.
Matt321
March 12th, 2013
1:57 pm
As a serious note, clearly if we transitioned to a K-7 and 8-12 or any other 2 school model, we would have the great problem of having lots of extra school buildings. With a little bit of shuffling around, the end result could hopefully smaller school sizes for everyone.
Another comment
March 12th, 2013
2:01 pm
@middle school parent. just make sure in High School your child takes all Honors classes. Then try AP world Geography that is an Easy A. But with the AP classes you must sit and do flash cards with your child to study almost nightly. Don’t allow them to put your child in the on level classes even if they got bad grades in middle school. If they were an OBama scholar in Elementary school they got above 90% on the IOWA tests so they have the IQ tests. If they are in at least the Honor classes then they are out from under the rif raft. The bullies the 80 IQ Students. Make sure they maintain above an 3.0 GPA on the Hope eligible course (Raw Score) for Freshman and Sophmore years).
Then have them enroll in dual enrollment or Accell, Move on when ready. Start college and go to Ga. Permeter or one of the other colleges. You have to pay about $200-300 in books. They can still partcipate in high school sports and clubs, but they are away from from the hell hole of Georgia Public secondary high school. Plus their credits count for High School and College. It is not an if they score a 4 or 5 on an AP exam. Most colleges only take 2-3 college AP classes, and they are hard. IB is ridiculous, not at all relateable to College. I went to top Universities. I graduated 5th in my calss out side of this state in College. My oldest will end up with 15 credits from Georgia Perimeter that count as her electives and towards graduation. So she easily be able to graduate from college in 3.5 years. She has been accepted at 3 colleges already. When her Cheerleading coach pointed out that she was her only cheerleader accepted at Univ. of Florida, my daughter go many angry glares. Including from the girls who were in the IB progam. My Daughter’s ACT score went up dramatically taking just a 1/2 semester of college level classes.
The key on you middle schooler she must take Honors level courses Freshman year. Don’t let the stupid Administrators put her/him in on level. Tell them to take a leap. After all they can’t even speak or write correct English. See the letter on Spending posted on Dekalb School Watch yesterday. The English was awful.
John Galt
March 12th, 2013
2:02 pm
The model doesn’t really matter—that’s a matter of style over substance. The substance is how are the students treated by administrators and teachers. Are they informed regarding what is expected of them? Are they treated with respect and affection, with encouragement and reinforcement, with understanding and courtesy, and granted some autonomy over their lives with the intent of helping them achieve during what can be the difficult transition from child to adolescent? Or are they highly monitored and controlled by authoritarian figures who impose rules without input from students and impose them inconsistently? It is unfortunate that the breakdown of the family structure in America is accelerating because being emotionally close to both parents heavily influences educational efforts and social behaviors of these young students. Teachers and administrators need to understand that control strategies (monitoring behavior while granting autonomy) are most important to the learning process, and should also emphasize mastery and improvement rather than focusing on relative ability and competition.
catlady
March 12th, 2013
2:02 pm
My mom was a high school teacher in the 60s, 70s, and 80s and she thought the middle school idea to be the worst! I mean, can you put together a more disturbed/disturbing group than 6-8th students? Whatever was that all about?
Another comment
March 12th, 2013
2:06 pm
@Christy you are so naive it is pittafull, go drink a few more glasses of wine.
You are preaching to the choir
March 12th, 2013
2:10 pm
…….and back in the day WE KNEW HOW TO BEHAVE OURSELVES BECAUSE IF WE DIDN’T, MAMA WOULD BUST OUR A&%!! The kids today have ZERO discipline! And I blame that on our lovely governemnt sticking its nose in the private business of the American family! So, I don’t think it has anything to do with being a “middle school” or a “junior high” school – it’s whether or not the PARENTS take an active role in making sure their kids are doing what they are supposed to be doing and not causing problems for everyone else! I do work in the school system and I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have heard a kid tell a school administrator to “call my mama! Have HER come up here!” And the parents act worse than the kids! Remember the days when the School Principal had control of the students? Those days are LONG GONE!!
Out the Door
March 12th, 2013
2:16 pm
Batgirl @ 10:02 AM has probably hit the nail on the head with the “fix” for middle schools. If the strings for “additional funding” for middle school programs are removed as indicated in the State Education Finance Study Commission report, many local school systems will probably revert to a more traditional junior high scheduling model as a cost saving measure to balance the on-going austerity cuts and under-funding of school systems.
(the other) Rodney
March 12th, 2013
2:17 pm
Growing up in a small town in south Georgia in the 70s and 80s it was:
Primary School – 1-3
Elementary School – 4-6
Junior High (Middle, as you all call it) – 7-8
High 9-12
I always thought that made sense because you have smaller groups of kids (at least until high school) who are developmentally closer to their peers. Junior High (Middle School) was kind of the “in-between” from being in a one-teacher, one-class situation to having multiple teachers in multiple buildings.
Angela
March 12th, 2013
2:28 pm
I am so amazed at this topic. I have read several reasons/faults for why middle school students fail or are not ready for middle school. I have read nothing but blame on the school/system. I am so amazed at how so many none classroom teachers have so many opinions. Yet, they have not taught in any classroom be it elementary, middle or high school. And, neither have they did any real volunteer time and let’s be real even helped your child academically.
One blogger stated that middle school really did a job on her child. When are parents going to stop blaming the teachers, schools/systems. We teach what you send us nothing more and nothing less. Parents whatever they bring from YOUR home (meaning your values, morals, practices, spoon feeding, hand held, etc.) is what they bring to the school house. Our job is to teach the curriculum nothing more nothing less. If a teacher gives more please please consider that a sincere bonus because LOVE and NURTURE is not in our contracts and never will be.
We work with little pay and an abundance of disrespect. Again, we teach what you send us and changing the school levels will not changes any of that. Yesterday’s DCSS undisclosed teacher wrote and it spoke volumns and some. Read it and re-read it until you get the message LOUD and CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dcb
March 12th, 2013
2:29 pm
To ChristyS above – but even though you say you don’t think the MS structure is a failure, you go on to say “….. I think the failure is due to our need to coddle everyone and socially promote unprepared students. Mastery is no longer the ideal; instead, edu-businesses are pushing equal outcomes. What garbage!” That is the MS philosophy. Don’t bruise the self-image. This is a sensitive age. Down-play or even eliminate competition. And equal outcomes w/o commensurate effort are just some of the more visible characteristics.
Bonnie
March 12th, 2013
2:31 pm
I have a grandson who is now in 6th grade, going from elementary to middle. Excuse my comment but middle school in my town is the pits. There is no communicaion between parents/school and they want the kids to be responsible but treat them like they are in kindergarten. I think k-8 is much better for the transition to high school.
Another comment
March 12th, 2013
2:32 pm
Here is the worst part of middle school one of the three kids that has been bullying my daughter and at least 10 others to the point that they did not want to go on the Chorus trip to New Orleans for this week. She has been reported numerous times for bullying. Over 3 times by me alone, which means she should have been removed from the school. The kicker is she is still being allowed to go on the Chorus trip to New Orleans. I questioned the Principal last week, why this girl the bully was being allowed to go on this field trip. All I received was, thanks for your e-mail. Then my bet is this kid is probably going on Scholarship.
I want to scream, that their is no punishment for Bullies. They are allowed to go on an out of town field trip. Ten plus other kids are afraid to go on the trip because of the bully. Then I don’t get to meet with the Area Supt. Cox until the 20th after the big field trip to discuss my concerns about the on going bulling. I sent Avossa letters the first weeks of January.
I thought that kids who were discipline issues weren’t allowed to go on field trips. What are they afraid of Mama is going to sit on their face. She is a rude butt too, that comes in at the last minute of concerts too and try to steal seats in front of people who have been sitting in the seats for over an hour. People who have actually volunteered at school.
LU
March 12th, 2013
2:34 pm
in the 70’s they also grouped kids based on ability/learning style…….
yes there were small classes that the “slow” students had to go too……… but they got the one-on-one instruction they don’t get in one size fits all
Devil's Advocate
March 12th, 2013
2:37 pm
You people complaining back and forth need to dig deeper. Are you really suggesting that the age grouping is the real reason for problems in middle school? Please.
Every great system must be built from the inside-out, not outside-in. Looking at middle school as just a 6-8 pit of doom doesn’t assess, address, or make any sense of the problems within. Define the problems found in middle school then address them.
Trotter’s long post has a lot of merit. I can tell you that the difference between a 7th grader and a 9th grader is similar to the difference between a 6th grader and an 8th grader. A lot of transition mentally, emotionally, and physically starts around 6th grade and doesn’t end until AFTER 12th grade. Most people seem to think that 9-12 belong together so the real debate is what to do about 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
So what problems face each of these grades individually? How many problems are the same across grades? How many are different? Can these problems not be addressed within the current middle school grouping by changing the way middle schools are operated? Why do we need to build new schools to support more groupings of grades when we could just correct the way we handle students today? No matter what physical building you place different grades in, schooling still has to occur.
I have a son in middle school right now and all I can tell you is that kids are not treated with the respect they are due because most are “off the chain” compared to kids when I was that age. Things that would have gotten us suspended hardly garner anything worse than detention today. We as a society have different expectations today. We allow our children to get away with so much bad behavior because they are “just kids” and need emotional uplifting.
Forget that. When I was in junior high (7-9) we got in trouble for showing disrespect from Day 1 in 7th grade. We actually feared notifications going home to our parents because we would actually get in real trouble at home for misbehaving at school. Parents allow today’s youth to behave so disrespectfully in general that we passively (and sometimes aggressively) make excuses for bad behavior and disruption. That’s your problem with middle schools.
If you want someone to act responsibly then give them responsibility. Sure, they may fail but they’ll learn to do better. By allowing kids to get away with bad behavior we are taking away their opportunity to be responsible for themselves. The worse part is that administrators and teachers are just as guilty as parents. When any misbehavior occurs they love to punish an entire group of students regardless of their individual role in whatever happened in order to not have to deal with the root of the problem. That is taking the peer accountability model to the extreme. You see, bad kids already know they are going to get in trouble so do you think they care if their victims or innocent bystanders get in trouble too? Teachers don’t want to deal with most problems because they usually don’t get administrative support in seeing it through to some corrective action. This often leads to the other extreme that some problems are not dealt with at all in hopes that it’ll just go away. Shame on the administrators for supporting inflated passing statistics rather than supporting respect and achievement in the classroom.
Bottom line, problems have causes and adults choosing to avoid real resolutions is why the middle school model is broken.
Techmom
March 12th, 2013
2:37 pm
I still think the schools could be re-purposed pretty efficiently without massive spending. Yes some middle schools would need lockers removed and playgrounds added and elementary schools would need science labs but for the most part, schools are simply a bunch of classrooms with a gym, lunchroom, library, office and bathrooms. Schools would then have what 500-900 students in K4-12 (and yes, get if the lottery is going to fund K4, get it out of daycares and into schools so it’s not just a babysitting program). This would also mean that families would keep their children in the same place and not worry about having to run from one school to the next and most importantly, you rebuild communities by connecting families (and teachers) for long periods of time. I strongly believe that middle schoolers who have their previous teachers nearby are less likely to do dumb stuff when they know there’s someone watching them (and who isn’t afraid to pick up the phone and call their parents because they have a relationship with their parents!)
My son’s school is K4-12 and yes while it’s a private school who has the benefit of getting rid of the really bad kids, they have figured out how to make it work. One hall is K4-4, the other is 5-12. The “Academy” grades (5-8) are on one end of the upper-grades hall, the administration and guidance offices in the middle and the high school classes on the other end. All grades share a gym, lunchroom, library, science labs, band rooms and art rooms. They have learned to be efficient with the space they have and while yes, there is some overlap, there doesn’t appear to be any major issues with the space.
A retired teacher
March 12th, 2013
2:40 pm
I favor a 7-8-9 junior high. No teams.
bu2
March 12th, 2013
2:46 pm
Teachers like Angela and administrators who think like that need to realize you have to work with what you have. That means setting it up for the best chance of success. You can’t magically thrust us back into Ozzie and Harriet land. You can’t go back to the 50s where jr high kids were scared of authority. You can’t pull out the paddles with holes drilled in them. Being scared of authority isn’t always good. Witness APS where all the teachers and administrators supported the test score fraud.
The middle school years need to be set up in developmentally sound ways for dealing with kids as they are in 2013, not how they were in 1973 or 1953 or 1933. Does there need to be more discipline? Sure. But its not going to be like when I or many others grew up (and there were discipline issues back then too, just not as widespread).
sad APS dad
March 12th, 2013
2:47 pm
Another “benefit” of K-8 schools is that it provides parents one fewer option to bail on the local school. Right now, most parents leave the local public school after elementary grades or after middle school grades. If you reduce the number of opportunities to leave the system, fewer parents will actually leave. We have changed school districts after every level, elementary, middle, and now high school as we shop for the best educational ENVIRONMENT for our children. Note, I emphasized looking for the best environment because, let’s face reality, Georgia is 48th in education for a reason. Being the best school in a state ranked 48th is like being the at the top of the bottom tier, you are still a part of the bottom tier. Please, no rants about how XYZ school in Blah, Blah, Blah county is better. The state is 48th in academic performance = they all fall below expectations in one form or another.
ChristyS
March 12th, 2013
2:59 pm
@ Another Comment — I am sorry to hear about your daughter being bullied. My middle child was bullied in MS as well, but it was quickly handled by the assistant principal, so my experience is not yours. As to me being naive, I disagree. This is my third child going to MS and all of my kids were advanced one full grade in ES. IOW, they go through the MS experience a year earlier than most of their “peers.” MS has been a non-event for my kids. Maybe it has a lot to do with the structure our MS uses and the fact that my kids take advanced content classes.
@ dcb — Nope. That is not JUST the MS Philosophy; that is the philosophy in ES and some HS classes as well. As such, I consider that a failure of the whole system. We (and by we I mean parents and teachers) should teach kids to take responsibility for their efforts (or lack of). I am thankful that the advanced content classes my boys took in MS and HS didn’t allow Mulligans, partial homework make-ups, participation grades, group project grades, etc. As the ES saying goes, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.” This is a life lesson worth learning.
Funny
March 12th, 2013
3:12 pm
Dr. Trotter I don’t think people care if you make comments they are amusing. It is the fact that you are using this an other blogs to advertise your for profit union MACE. We all have to pay our bills but you advertising for free is getting old. Can’t you afford billboards anymore?
Pride and Joy
March 12th, 2013
3:17 pm
I disagree that the differences between a 6th and an eigth grader is the problem. That makes the assumption that ALL sixth graders are alike and ALL eighth graders are alike.
The main difference is family values. When a family values education and discipline, it shows up in the kids.
All kids go through puberty and have a difficult time with it but what the parents do before that time is what will either make or break the kid. If mama and daddy steal, little junior is going to steal. If mama and Daddy follow a school bus so that their daughter can beat up another child exiting the school bus…well, Good Gracious, how do you think that bully child is going to turn out?
Drop out anyone?
My my, who would have guessed it.
Pamela
March 12th, 2013
3:20 pm
I went to a school in New Orleans that started in K – 8th grade. To me that is much better than Middle School. It never made sense to me. Schools in Georgia need to go back to that and cut out ‘middle’ school altogether.
atlmom
March 12th, 2013
3:31 pm
Yes, middle school is a bad idea, but is it the reason our schools are failing? No. I went to a private school that was divided k-6 and 7-12. No trouble whatsoever. Now my daughter goes to the same school and it’s divided k-5, 6-8, and 9-12–still no trouble whatsoever. The reason it works better than our local public schools is because all the parents care. They care to discipline their children. They care about education in general. The teachers and administrators care, too, because, unlike public school employees, they will be out of work quickly if they do not respond to parents and students. Mr. Trotter nailed the problem in failing public schools with his “four horsemen” comment. I think it is a problem with the culture. Not enough fathers living with their kids in intact families. Not enough parents who model respect for others, who model hard work and who value education.
Bugsy
March 12th, 2013
3:31 pm
I went to school here in Georgia and at the time the system was K-6, Middle 7-9, then High school was 10-12. My son is now an 8th grader. I can’t help but notice the difference between the 6th and 7th graders. Looking back it just seems that keeping 7, 8, 9 together for middle school seemed better for both the 6th and 9th graders that are now in middle and high school. My Mom also taught high school back then and she is still shocked over having the 9th graders going to high school. I guess it is also what we get used to, but it just seems as if the wrong ages are being lumped together now.
Georgia Coach
March 12th, 2013
3:38 pm
@funny you got it! Maureen doesn’t.
Ray
March 12th, 2013
3:43 pm
@ sad APS dad: You are right that going K-8 would mean one less transition that encourages some families to bail on their local public schools, and thereby weaken the sense of community. Watching friends and families bail on the local public schools and go private has been demoralizing for our 8th grader (and for her parents). Where I grew up (far from here) pretty much EVERYONE went to public school, K-12 (I knew maybe 2-3 kids who went to Catholic school), and the consequence was a strong sense of community where you knew the same kids, families, and everyone in your neighborhood, all the way through growing up. It’s not the same in Atlanta where so many people do their own thing when it comes to school. The result is weaker neighborhoods, weaker communities.
jh312
March 12th, 2013
5:39 pm
home-tutoring parent – if you have a moment, I’d love to know what resources/methods you’ve used for home-schooling. I live intown, where most of the private schools are extraordinarily expensive; however, I didn’t realize that a supplemental class here or there was even an option. If APS continues to destroy Inman and Grady, we are going the home-school route full time. Currently, I home-school over the summer in order to do extra work with my child, but a full-time option seems daunting. I’m an old-school Gen X-er in terms of my educational philosophy (very straightforward – memorize it, drill it, etc.), and a lot of the “ready made” home-school curriculum seems very religious or very unstructured and child-led. That’s fine if that’s your thing, but it would not work for me. Any guidance would be very much appreciated!
Dr. John Trotter
March 12th, 2013
7:17 pm
There are two wonderful organizations which try to represent all people involved in public education…bus drivers, janitors, teachers, principals, and superintendents. They are the Georgia Association of Educators and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Their website addresses are the following, respectively…
http://www.gae2.org
http://www.pageinc.org
There you are, folks. I am showing people how to get to GAE’s and PAGE’s websites.
The MACE website is the following…
http://www.theteachersadvocate.com
We love comparisons.
Dr. John Trotter
March 12th, 2013
7:23 pm
By the way, I am still waiting for someone to actually take on the merits or demerits of anything (yes, ANYthing) that I have written. Also, my offer continues to stand to engage in an open debate with Mark Elgart of SACS over the arbitrary and capricious application of SACS’ so-called standards. Also, for you very brave-hearted anonymous posters, I will gladly do the same for you also…but you will have to come out from under the rock and absorb some sunshine. Ooooooooooh, you guys frighten me so much. Darn it! You are so brave! Ha!
John Galt
March 12th, 2013
9:03 pm
Angela, you and your teaching comrades who have convinced yourselves that you are only in the profession to teach the subject are sad, sad excuses for “teachers.” If you know that your charges need more from you than 100 divided by 2 = 50 and you withhold caring, affection, and respect because your “contract” doesn’t obligate you to provide warmth and decency to your students, then you and your fellow travelers are sad, sad excuses for human beings.
Truth in Moderation
March 12th, 2013
9:10 pm
“For a model that DOES work, please consider Mt. Laurel, a town in Southern NEW JERSEY”
I’m sorry, that disqualifies your idea. When Jon Corzine pays up/goes to jail, then we might be interested.
Truth in Moderation
March 12th, 2013
9:25 pm
@jh312
Home tutoring parent is a fake.
There are several home school curriculum fairs each year. Check out the home school websites for Georgia to get info on time and dates. Just google home school curriculum and you will be overwhelmed with sites to visit. There are many sites with curriculum reviews. You can always use Khan Academy, just like they do in public school. Plus, it’s FREE. Many of the non-Christian home schoolers are “unschoolers”. Use google to find their groups. Home school is the opposite of government school: YOU DECIDE what is best for your child. YOU have to do the digging. For most, it is well worth the effort.
http://www.ghea.org
momofboys
March 13th, 2013
8:40 am
I’d be a huge supporter or my children’s local elementary school going K-8. Keeps my family together in and connected to our community public school for that much longer (12 years between both kids). Remembering back to my middle school experience, it was a huge shock & a painful time leaving my wonderfully supportive, creative, and eclectic elementary school & going to the uninspired & disconnected feel of the 5 – 6 middle school way across town. I remember feeling lost & like there wasn’t an adult who knew me & who I could look to for support… It was the first time I didn’t have the broader family of teachers & parents to help my parents guide me when they weren’t around. My confidence and my grades faltered. It seems like 9th grade is a better time to ask children to adjust to a new school. If the research is suggesting a K-8 model is educationally better and our overcrowding can’t easily be fixed at Inman, then let’s see how we can make it work with what we already have. Inman used to be an elementary school & granted the current elementary schools would need some renovations to add middle & jr high resources and technology, but it can’t be as much money or pain than trying to buy land or convince parents that trailers and more troubles at an overcrowded school will work out. I am sure we can figure out ways for kindergarteners & 8th graders to be physically removed from each other at school… And my guess is that 6 – 8th graders stay younger when attached to their elementary school longer… any corroboration on this assumption?
Angela
March 13th, 2013
9:32 am
@John Galt,
Thank you for your thoughts. However, I am sure that you are one with so many opinions and have yet to come and volunteer your services. I invite you to come to my classroom and read, tutor, mentor, etc. If you are willing to put your body where your mouth and finger tips are I will arrange through Maureen to give you the information. Hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking for the truth
March 13th, 2013
9:34 am
Middle school students are usually “off the chain” in school. There is one good reason for it! No day care center offers an after-school program for anything beyond grades 5-6. As a result, 7th and 8th graders are being turned loose on the streets of our communities because there’s no one available to make sure they stay out of trouble. This is NOT a criticism of working moms and dads – they are doing the best they can with the situation. It’s time to develop some after-school programs that support academics, athletics, music/arts AND parents. Better yet, design a tax benefit for one parent to be able to stay at home. A good at home parent beats day care any day of the week!
Looking for the truth
March 13th, 2013
9:35 am
A lack of supervision in the community leads to a rejection of supervision in our middle schools.
Bill Betzen
March 30th, 2013
6:43 am
There are certainly problems with the middle school model. When Dallas ISD moved 6th grade into middle schools the normal increase in disciplinary actions against 6th grade students went from being about 15% higher than 5th grade to being 440% higher! See details at http://schoolarchiveproject.blogspot.com/2013/03/middle-school-chaos.html