How Important is Middle School?

Our schools will continue to suffer as long as we have a gov't monopoly on out tax dollars for education. Vouchers would introduce competition and widespread innovation to education, something the NEA is scared to death of. Question, why were 25% of all delegates to the 1992 Democratic Convention members of the NEA? And fuether, doesn't that suggest the party was bought and paid for by one political action committee/special interest?

I'm not convinced that middle school is all that great. When I went to school K-7 was grade school and 8-12 high school. It was the same for my oldest son. For my youngest son K-5 was grade school, 6-8 middle school, and 9- 12 high school. I didn't see any advantage to middle school as far as academics were concerned. What I did see was that the kids grew up faster when in the quasi-high school getting into sex and drugs earlier. The 6-8 middle school has kids ranging from 11-14. There's a big difference between an 11 year old and a 14 year old but if a child is around older kids, he'll imitate their behavior. I found out my son dropped 1 friend he had in grade school because as soon as they hit middle school, the boy started smoking pot and my son besides hating the smell, didn't want to be around someone acting all stupid. When kept in grade school with younger kids until 7th grade (12-13), it seems the kids are in less of a rush to grow up. To me, middle school is a waste.

Funny this should come up. This AM, over my coffee, I was having a laugh over the work that Lady Bird did. It was a time of the flower children and flower power. Lady Bird had a national movement "to plant a tree, a bush, a shrub." It was a real flower power movement right into the face of the Haight/Ashbury flower children. They never caught on. I admire what she did, it continues to grow today.
Laura Bush? Were you sleeping? Laura kept a low profile and did more than many First Ladies. Different from the present First Lady, she did not want or need the national attention. Laura accomplished more than you know, I would suggest that you have a look back.
Today, she along with a few of the better minds in our country, are trying to work together at SMU to bring about positive change in our sad and failing public school system. There are a few, who sit on this board at SMU who want to keep the "system" divided. The few still find it necessary to maintain the divisive nature of the educational system. We all understand that children learn in different ways and that this one size fitting all fails the children. These few want the line drawn between skin color: "white," and "black." This approach is old and proven to fail. It is no more than more racism.
This is what Laura Bush is doing today, among other things. She has the help of the director of Focus Adolescent Services to keep the more simple minds on the board going in a positive and production way. Why their work has been ignored by the white house and the Dept. of Education and many of the so-called "experts" on education I do not know. Wrong, I do know. These "experts" want the fame and especially the money. They don't care if they fail as they did with "No Child Left Behind," and Success For Every Student." They just want to make sure their books are published, they hit the talk shows, draw fat checks, travel with the "powerful." and on and on until I want to vomit.

"No Child..." = one size fits all. A disaster!

Laura Bush has spent most of her adult life pushing education and not just talking about it . The first lady in office now is so busy trying to tell everyone what to do she should take a look at herself first "weight gain " . I have learned to watch what the Obama's do not what they say they will do.

A Taylor, your rude comments are a big part of the problem with this country. Instead of bashing our FIrst Lady, give her credit for addressing issues that need to be made public. Behind the scenes doesn't always succeed. And I believe she does practice what she preaches and from what I can see, they are both doing an amazing job with their children. Can you say the same? I doubt it by the way you talk.

When I was in school we had K-6, 7-9, 10-12 and it was a good system. We took the classes they told us to take, no changing classes or teachers. If we got an F we deserved it and some of us had to take the year over. It didn't kill any of us. Now there is no failing grade and they are pushing through a bunch of dummies who one day will run this country - THIS IS WRONG. Those of us born in the 30's and 40's are the survivers and the younger ones should follow in our foot steps.

Amazing how some use this venue to get yet another worthless swipe at the Obamas. Seriously. Grow up. You want to know what's wrong with this country? You want to know why our society is what is it today? Take a look in the mirror. For crying out loud, childhood obesity is rampant in this country, which will one day tax our already ailing health care system and cost you and I a lot of money. Some fiscal conservative you turned out to be. Keeping a "low profile" on this issue would make absolutely no sense. Also, you have to look no further than Mr. Bush's No Child Left Behind which has served to disenfranchise an entire population of child that doesn't fit the mold--Puritanism all over again. Lastly, while middle school is important, research shows that ages Birth to 4 are THE most critical time in a child's education (search for "Meaningful Differences by Hart and Risley") By middle school, it's too late to affect the learning curve.

Laura didn't make it in the classroom and bailed out to become a librarian. Now she's an authority on education!!!!!!!!!

@Taylor--What have YOU done lately????
PARENTS, TEACHERS & STUDENTS must work together on educating America's children--ALLof America's children!

Maybe you should take some time and read her book, Spoken From the Heart. You may learn a thing or two. And by the way, she is still living with George.

Serioulsy? Laura Bush was very active on education issues. She was not a show First Lady she was a working First Lady. I am a Dem and unfortunately I voted for Obama this past election but I never got to the point where I would just diss people for political cult reasons. Laura Bush was a great First Lady and continues to work for the common good. What are you doing today?

You do not know about it because the press did not cover it..If you would look beyond your biased blinders and investigate it yourself, you might see all that She accomplished without press coverage.

Now if that isn't a rude comment, I don't know what it is!

You are so right. Like you, I was not a fan, but this is about education. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, on this issue we should all agree. ALL of our children should receive a good equal education.
Our children are watching our behavior and it has been dismal, especially in the last couple of years. We need to do what is best for the future of our children, so that they can function in a diverse, global economy or they will truly be left behind.