“Is Middle School Bad for Kids?” by Claudia Wallis
...ests than middle schools do. Originally, middle schools were created with the philosophy that junior highs were not meeting kids’ social and developmental needs; instead, they focused on academics and were watered-downed versions of high school. This ideology sounds good; however, many educators say that districts never properly implemented the middle school reform. Large middle schools were created to address overcrowding rather than to embrace the philosophy of the reform and became no different from the junior highs that they were meant to replace. In some ways, K-8 schools can better implement the middle school philosophy. Middle schools come at a time when children begin to question social conventions. With security guards around, middle schools may foster behavior problems. However, K-8 schools tend to emphasize responsibility and leadership more. Older students often work with younger students and become mentors. Emotional needs are also met with stronger teacher-student relationships that have spanned several years. Thus, many studies point to middle schools as a place where children lose their way. From my middle school experience, I experienced many of the issues described in the article. Middle school did offer a new-found independence but did little to give me a sense of responsibility. I became more rebellious and began to talk back to teachers. In elementary school, I use to be bewildered about how kids got detentions, but I received several in middle school. My grades suffered as a result, and formerly ...