Full Version: The middle school concept
The New York Times had an excellent article about how the state of New Jersey is thinking of doing away with the middle school concept. In short,
-Article by Debra Nussbaum, registration required.
Here's a great link on different websites about the middle school concept:
http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/bgm/Middle%20Sch...ept%20Links.htm
***Article URL as requested:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/nyregion/12NJ.html
Questions for debate:
1.)Should we get rid of the middle school concept and move back to the K-8 model?
2.)If you are a parent, do you prefer the middle school concept or the K-8 model?
3.)What other possibilities might exist to further the educational attainment of those children roughly 11-14?
QUOTE
The change from K-8 schools followed by four-year secondary schools emerged in the late 1800's. But in the early 1900's, the concept of junior high school - including grades seven and eight and some instances nine - was born. Then, in the early 1960's, middle schools for grades six, seven and eight gained in popularity. But once again, the pendulum is swinging back.
"We looked at the data and K-8 schools were functioning at a much higher level of achievement," said Marion Bolden, superintendent of schools in Newark. "A typical middle school that is too large struggles. I absolutely think more and more urban districts will look at K-8 and create more or keep what they have. It's such a great environment. It's more of a community school."
"We looked at the data and K-8 schools were functioning at a much higher level of achievement," said Marion Bolden, superintendent of schools in Newark. "A typical middle school that is too large struggles. I absolutely think more and more urban districts will look at K-8 and create more or keep what they have. It's such a great environment. It's more of a community school."
-Article by Debra Nussbaum, registration required.
Here's a great link on different websites about the middle school concept:
http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/bgm/Middle%20Sch...ept%20Links.htm
***Article URL as requested:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/nyregion/12NJ.html
Questions for debate:
1.)Should we get rid of the middle school concept and move back to the K-8 model?
2.)If you are a parent, do you prefer the middle school concept or the K-8 model?
3.)What other possibilities might exist to further the educational attainment of those children roughly 11-14?
1.)Should we get rid of the middle school concept and move back to the K-8 model?
Probably not, but I think it should be up to local control. Actually, I think it should be up to parental / market control, but that's another topic.
2.)If you are a parent, do you prefer the middle school concept or the K-8 model?
I'm not a parent, but I'd prefer schools with not really more than 3 grades in them: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12. I'd also prefer them to be quite small, especially in the lower grades, with fewer than 100 students per school.
3.)What other possibilities might exist to further the educational attainment of those children roughly 11-14?
see, above. Involve the parent(s). Also, a groundswell movement to a society that rewards hard work vs luck.
Probably not, but I think it should be up to local control. Actually, I think it should be up to parental / market control, but that's another topic.
2.)If you are a parent, do you prefer the middle school concept or the K-8 model?
I'm not a parent, but I'd prefer schools with not really more than 3 grades in them: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12. I'd also prefer them to be quite small, especially in the lower grades, with fewer than 100 students per school.
3.)What other possibilities might exist to further the educational attainment of those children roughly 11-14?
see, above. Involve the parent(s). Also, a groundswell movement to a society that rewards hard work vs luck.
Well that certainly will not be happening in my area..we are just now building all our schools..I am in a rapid growth area of DC metro. My children are attending a newly built school and it is not designed to take on grades K-8...but it does take pre-K for special needs up to fifth grade. Altho lemme tell you what my school district is doing..the new middle school is now being built (won't be ready for 2 yrs, they just started) and it is being built right next door. The elementary and middle schools will essentially share a parking lot and all the recreational fields for football, baseball etc. That I like..makes it easier for the transportation..they can mingle for after school activities when family and the community as a whole is there and the idea of moving on out of elementary school is not such a distant removed thing. The high school is already built and has been built for sometime now and it sits at the end of the road from the other two schools. So all the schools are localized.
I personally would not want a k-8 school because I know in my area it would have to be a massive school and I don't like that idea at all. I also don't want my kindergartner or first grader mingling with 7th or 8th graders with little adult supervision..like on the bus. That is just too great of an age difference. Even now at elem. school they try and keep the younger ones away from the older ones as much as possible.
My mum is a teacher..she teaches elementary in MD. She tells me that fifth graders begin the change..they basically start to have very different attitudes about school, learning, teachers etc near the end of fifth grade so I do feel this is a critical age. My mum claims a lot of it is hormonal and so I don't see what advantage there would be to attempting to peter pan these kids by keeping them in neverland (elem.) Perhaps during this period the school should focus a little more on social and mental aspects of life?
I also think this age group does not attract as many teachers..they are often seen or labeled as trouble makers..the harder of the children to teach..because if you don't like school anymore at 8th grade there is nothing you can do about it..but come 9th grade you are likely to quit.
I would also be interested to see the ratio of male teachers vs. female teachers for this age group..in elem. school it is predominately female.
I would also be interested to know how much parental help/volunteers a elem. school receives compared to a middle school. In elem. school a lot of parents are very much involved in the children's education and I think as the children get older and less dependent of us and even request this of us even less that parents probably begin to drop off in regards to direct involvement with the schools and teachers. So I would imagine that is why a k-8 school would be more communal because that honestly is just how elem. schools are.
nebraska29 can you put a link up for the NY Times article please
I personally would not want a k-8 school because I know in my area it would have to be a massive school and I don't like that idea at all. I also don't want my kindergartner or first grader mingling with 7th or 8th graders with little adult supervision..like on the bus. That is just too great of an age difference. Even now at elem. school they try and keep the younger ones away from the older ones as much as possible.
My mum is a teacher..she teaches elementary in MD. She tells me that fifth graders begin the change..they basically start to have very different attitudes about school, learning, teachers etc near the end of fifth grade so I do feel this is a critical age. My mum claims a lot of it is hormonal and so I don't see what advantage there would be to attempting to peter pan these kids by keeping them in neverland (elem.) Perhaps during this period the school should focus a little more on social and mental aspects of life?
I also think this age group does not attract as many teachers..they are often seen or labeled as trouble makers..the harder of the children to teach..because if you don't like school anymore at 8th grade there is nothing you can do about it..but come 9th grade you are likely to quit.
I would also be interested to see the ratio of male teachers vs. female teachers for this age group..in elem. school it is predominately female.
I would also be interested to know how much parental help/volunteers a elem. school receives compared to a middle school. In elem. school a lot of parents are very much involved in the children's education and I think as the children get older and less dependent of us and even request this of us even less that parents probably begin to drop off in regards to direct involvement with the schools and teachers. So I would imagine that is why a k-8 school would be more communal because that honestly is just how elem. schools are.
nebraska29 can you put a link up for the NY Times article please
1.) Should we get rid of the middle school concept and move back to the K-8 model?
When I started school in 1948, there was no mandatory kindergarten. Kids attended elementary school for grades 1-6; jr. high for grades 7-9 and high school for grades 10-12. Then Fort Worth's school district went to middle school, but I don't remember exactly when. Elementary school became grades 1-5; middle school 6-8 and high school 9-12.
Part of the reason for this change is that in Texas students get credits toward high school graduation in grades 9-12. It seems logical, at least to me, to move the 9th graders into high school where counselors have to deal with the issue of credits.
Then kindergarten became mandatory--first half day, then full day and other pre school programs were added. Adding kindergarten and pre school brought about space problems.
I really don't think it makes much difference whether we move back to a K-8 system, or not. With limited funds and shortages of space, school districts are often caught in a net of what's possible, not what's desirable.
2.)If you are a parent, do you prefer the middle school concept or the K-8 model?
I am not a parent. so I will not address this question.
3.)What other possibilities might exist to further the educational attainment of those children roughly 11-14?
To relieve overcrowding in middle schools, Fort Worth has moved 6th graders into separate buildings from 7th and 8th graders.
I think this is good. The less crowding the better, but the decision was made on a logistical basis.
When I started school in 1948, there was no mandatory kindergarten. Kids attended elementary school for grades 1-6; jr. high for grades 7-9 and high school for grades 10-12. Then Fort Worth's school district went to middle school, but I don't remember exactly when. Elementary school became grades 1-5; middle school 6-8 and high school 9-12.
Part of the reason for this change is that in Texas students get credits toward high school graduation in grades 9-12. It seems logical, at least to me, to move the 9th graders into high school where counselors have to deal with the issue of credits.
Then kindergarten became mandatory--first half day, then full day and other pre school programs were added. Adding kindergarten and pre school brought about space problems.
I really don't think it makes much difference whether we move back to a K-8 system, or not. With limited funds and shortages of space, school districts are often caught in a net of what's possible, not what's desirable.
2.)If you are a parent, do you prefer the middle school concept or the K-8 model?
I am not a parent. so I will not address this question.
3.)What other possibilities might exist to further the educational attainment of those children roughly 11-14?
To relieve overcrowding in middle schools, Fort Worth has moved 6th graders into separate buildings from 7th and 8th graders.
I think this is good. The less crowding the better, but the decision was made on a logistical basis.
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