[Speed Gibson,
Monday January 28, 2008 at 5:08pm]
Do Middle Schools Work? Part 2
In Part 1, I described another approach to education, where the "middle school" / "junior high" layer is removed. Instead, there is a K-8 elementary school and a 9-12 secondary school.
I'm new to this but I like it already. In my "Project 281" travels, I have found that parents take great pride in their neighborhood elementary schools in particular and their high school in general. There is no love for middle schools, only some admiration here and there for a specific teacher. Middle school is to be endured, not enjoyed, not really remembered. All I personally remember is the transition. My fond memories were from Brookside Elementary (a block away) and St. Louis Park High School.
Getting back to 281, which has three aging middle schools at least 10 aging elementary schools, maybe it's time for a change. Maybe the new elementary schools should be made larger and appropriate for K-8. As a transition / prototype, Plymouth Middle School, currently being updated, could become such a school, consolidating with nearby Pilgrim Lane Elementary.
This is speculation at this point but if public schools are to survive, changes of this magnitude may be required.
I'm new to this but I like it already. In my "Project 281" travels, I have found that parents take great pride in their neighborhood elementary schools in particular and their high school in general. There is no love for middle schools, only some admiration here and there for a specific teacher. Middle school is to be endured, not enjoyed, not really remembered. All I personally remember is the transition. My fond memories were from Brookside Elementary (a block away) and St. Louis Park High School.
Getting back to 281, which has three aging middle schools at least 10 aging elementary schools, maybe it's time for a change. Maybe the new elementary schools should be made larger and appropriate for K-8. As a transition / prototype, Plymouth Middle School, currently being updated, could become such a school, consolidating with nearby Pilgrim Lane Elementary.
This is speculation at this point but if public schools are to survive, changes of this magnitude may be required.