NYT Middle School Article

This article from the New York Times was debating the need for middle schools and if we break them up if they should stay in elementary school or get moved up to high school. The reason people think middle schools need to be abolished are because of slumps in learning and the crime rates that are evident during this period. The debate is more than just which school they will be placed in. The debate is nurse the children for a few more years or give the children an early push towards adulthood and prepare them for college.

I feel that this is a horrible idea for any child in this age demographic. I feel that middle schoolers need their own school due to the drastic behavioral changes that occur in this time span. I think middle school children experience alot of changes and it would not be beneficial for them to be grouped in either high school or middle school. I feel that the transition into middle school is a step towards maturity and tells the children that they are starting to grow up but also tells them that they aren't grown up quite yet. I feel that the step up will create a lot more harrassment for the middle schoolers, but if held in elementary school the middle schoolers will be more likely to harass younger students. I think that the poor academic performance and the increase in crime at this age is directly linked to the changes that occur along with puberty.

As a teacher I think it would create alot more violence, harrassment, and overall chaos in an already stressful situation at a high school. I think it would not prepare the students better for college, and I think some kids would really hqave a hard time finding their self-identity which would mean they wouldn't perform as well in the classroom. The plus side to this for me as a health teacher is that they would need to open up more health positions and possibly increase the requirements for health.