After reading the history of Middle Level Schools and the George articles, I thought about the comments made about many places going back to K-8 or even K-12 schools. I thought about Brewer schools becoming a K-8 school soon and I though about Glenburn where a close friend's daughter attends. Then, I thought about my school and my own middle school experience. I am not sure it would have mattered to me as an adolescent whether I went to a K-8 or a 6-8 school. I adapted pretty well to school and was good at "doing" school, which did give me many of the middle level experiences I read about and see/participate in now. However, I remember seeing students that were not involved and as I look back I wonder if some of our strategies were in place if those students would have felt left out.
I watch what we try to implement at our school and I just can't imagine the same flavor of giving students that middle school experience if they were just a part of a K-8 school. Our whole school celebrates birthdays on the announcements every morning, as well as giving "kudos" to students. Could that happen in a large school? Announcements must be really long if it does happen. Do the kids get as many individual acknowledgement? There are so many tenets for a great middle school that is mentioned in Bright Futures and This We Believe that partially fit a younger grade model but not all. What happens to building a small community "we are in this together" feeling? I just do not think it would work as well in a larger school with many grades that require many different needs. I love the smaller school.
Last week, our principal went through a personal tragedy and the response of the kids was wonderful. They insisted on creating cards that the entire school would sign. When he came back to work the students were caring and supportive but not "in your face" overwhelming. In a small school where we all created and use our Words to Learn and Live By and have built a community atmosphere, this happens. Does it happen in K-8 schools? I am not sure but I just do not think it can possibly feel the same.
Excellent point...many K-8 schools (at least in Maine) are already smaller so it would not be a matter of adding more pupils...just a different set of grades. But, I understand that you have built a school culture at LMS and that means a lot.
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