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How Important is Middle School?
Filed under: In The News, Education: Tweens
Middle school is a pivotal time in a student's education, according to Laura Bush. Credit: Getty Images
According to the Associated Press, Bush feels strongly that middle school is a very important period of a child's education that is not getting enough attention. The program, Middle School Matters, "will develop, implement, test and scale a school transformation model that enables middle schools to achieve their mission of ensuring students have the required academic foundation to successfully complete high school," according to the George W. Bush Presidential Center website.
"We know now from research that a lot of kids that drop out in high school really drop out in middle school," the former first lady tells the AP. "They just leave in high school."
What do you think? How important is middle school?
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 5)
2-11-2011 @ 2:24PM
Karen said...It was called Jr. High in the "old days", it included 7th, 8th and 9th grades. In the late 60's or early 70's they changed it to middle school and picked up 6th grade, but sent 9th graders to high school. So high school became 4 grades instead of 3.
2-11-2011 @ 8:26AM
Vince said...Why isn't she home baking cookies for George?
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2-11-2011 @ 8:35AM
Cindy said...How childish some of you are. This woman (and in fact this couple) has conducted themselves with nothing but class and dignity. But I guess people of your ilk wouldn't recognize that!
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2-11-2011 @ 10:20AM
kathleenzzz said...Cindy, you must have done very well in Middle School, as opposed to most of the Neanderthals who still cannot stop criticizing the work of George and Laura Bush. And, I suppose with AOL's acquisition of the Huffington whatever, we will see more and more of the endless drivel from the liberal left.
2-11-2011 @ 11:11AM
Maggie said...Laura Bush has been quietly, but very strongly active in promoting the rights of the women and girls in Afghanistan as far back as 2005. I don't hear any of the women's rights groups saying or doing anything for some of the most oppressed and brutalized women in the world. She also had a hand in bringing Aisha (the young woman TIME magazine used on a cover who had her nose cut off) to the USA for reconstructive surgery. I don't recall any women's rights groups even commenting on the girl's ordeal, or offering any support for her recovery. Mrs. Bush has always advocated reading and education. Two things foolishly taken for granted in this country ... and outlawed for girls and women in Afghanistan and other countries. But I don't seem to hear women's groups advocating or demanding for those rights here or over there, only the right for said girls and women to have an abortion paid with US taxpayer dollars. Perhaps if Mrs. Bush had a mission to halt school bake sales she might be held up as some stellar example of a former First Lady. More power to the current First Lady who insists national security depends on the weight of our children and what they do or don't eat, but from what I've observed she poorly leads by example.
2-11-2011 @ 9:48AM
skcalien said...Education isn't partisan and some of you are showing a lack of class. Laura Bush was a very gracious first lady who put education first. She is a librarian and has always considered the education of our children a priority. Senator Ted Kennedy was out in front with the President on 'No Child Left Behind' -- he knew when a topic was partisan and not partisan.
Believe she is correct that Middle School is where you lose students. Parents don't take enough interest in their children's education or we would have this turned around sometime ago when parents demand a better education for their children.
I applaud Michelle Obama for taking on childhood obesity and the school lunch menu. If a child doesn't eat right, they have a harder time learning.
If you cannot see that education should be the concern of all Americans not just by political party, then suggest you are too deep into politics and cannot see the forest for the trees.
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2-11-2011 @ 8:59AM
Greg said..."No Child..." = a disaster for public education. Two "C" students - Jr. and Laura - have all the answers for public ed., right? Give me a break!
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2-11-2011 @ 10:13AM
genevieve said...Life and leadership is not limited to the class valedictorian, but to those who take risks, fail, and take more risks. With his C average G.W. Bush managed to become governor of TX, own a baseball team, and become a two term president.
And you sir, were you the valedictorian of your class, now hoping not to get laid off by your employer??
2-11-2011 @ 2:24PM
Karen said...Often those that have to work hard at something end up with a better appreciation for it and a deeper understanding of why it IS hard for some students. The ones who are "naturals" are rarely the best teachers.
2-11-2011 @ 9:00AM
Jeanette said...I do believe this would make a difference. Middle school is when children lay the foundation for what is repeated to a larger degree in high school. If the student feels inept going into high school, they are already discouraged and lacking in confidence to continue forward. Without the proper guidance, likely to drop out all together.
Without getting into personal comments so much as most of you have, I think Laura Bush was a classy First Lady....and George Bush did a good job for everything that transpired during his Presidency - rem. we had a terrorist attack and New York thinking they deserve more than any other City in the U. S., demanded great financial returns! and let's not forget about crazy California. I'm tired of bailing them out...
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2-11-2011 @ 9:38AM
halbigh said...I have what I feel is a simple solution to this problem. Bring back the daily 50 minutes of physEd and do away with Spring Break.
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2-11-2011 @ 11:28AM
nick said...Go back to the days when parents were parents instead of just drinking ripple and inbreeding!!!!!!!!
2-11-2011 @ 9:43AM
Tom Russell said...Perhaps she should enroll her husband.
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2-11-2011 @ 9:55AM
Felicia said...Education should not be a political issue. We are failing because we do not make education a priority in this country.
Our children have become lazy, rude and entitled and put on too much medication, not their fault, it is mostly the parent's fault, we are a 'blame someone else' society.
Have people ever thought that their children might have ADHD because they have a rotten diet, their cell phone is constantly ringing or they are texting, they are playing video games, they are watching TV, these children have no quiet time!
If your child is not doing well in school, work with the teacher, don't blame the teacher. If you are trying to work with the teacher and there is still a problem, then complain. Give children a sense of responsibility.
Children need discipline, a good diet and sleep, they are being allowed to do what they want, in most part. I would also have to say, they have become little soldiers in school, physical activities are being taken away and this idea that every student should be a straight A student is ridiculous. Not every child is the same.
I think they should have Home Economic classes, every child should build or make something in school. Some children will want to go into a trade, not everyone is destined to become a doctor or a lawyer.
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2-11-2011 @ 8:16PM
Twinkles said...AMEN! Kids AND parents need to acknowledge their responsibility in the learning process. If the child does not behave in school, they need to know that they will be punished at home as well as at school. Those who disrupt class are STEALING an education from those who want an education, something that should not be allowed. It's time to stop coddling the bad kids and give the good students the attention they deserve.
2-11-2011 @ 10:12AM
genevievereynard said...Middle School was and seems to continue to be a "wasteland" of children running through the for of adolescents in the dark. In elementary school they are children and in high school they are teenagers. In middle school they are uncomfortable being teenagers and are afraid to be children. Much criticism and peer pressure take place during that time of life. I have called it the scourge of life and education.
However, this is the period that students, if permitted to focus on academics and sports build their self esteem, learn how to go to school and become responsible for their own work without a teacher hovering over them, and where they learn study habits and time management. Absent developing those skills at that time, students spend their first two years of high school catching up or giving up.
Kudos to Mrs. Bush for her insightfulness. Let's hope that the American school system can do something productive with this.
My suggestion - separate boys and girls and take away the hormonally inspire distractions to help them focus on academics and sports.
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2-11-2011 @ 10:30AM
geomcd said...As a teacher for 30 years and a parent for even more, I feel strongly that the middle school should be banned. These are nothing but miniature high schools and the children that age are not ready for this. Keeping children in elementary school is much better, but with the seventh and 8th having specialized teachers for their curriculum to get them used to going from classroom to classroom. No school should be as large as most of them are now. Very large enrollments keep the school life from being personal.
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2-11-2011 @ 6:20PM
Beth said...Thank you for your comment. Middle schools are a disaster. They began with great fanfare about treating emerging adolescents in ways that met their developmental needs, but turned into the same mini high schools that junior highs had been, which has been a disaster for sixth graders who don't belong in them. Ninth graders actually do better in high school and colleges count ninth grade grades. Some interesting new research has shown that k-8 schools may actually be better and Santa Fe New Mexico is experimenting with that concept which as a former junior high school principal I agree with. That age group needs personal attention, lots of physical breaks and acceptance of the wide variety in mental, physical and emotional growth that occurs in early adolescence.
2-11-2011 @ 10:34AM
John said...I don't know where some of you ppl get your ideas? Laura Bush was one of the finest "first ladies" since Mrs Kennedy! She took the flack from many, not unlike you, with grace and pose.
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2-11-2011 @ 10:41AM
Nick said...WHEN WILL THIS COUNTRY GIVE CREDIT TO FAITH BASED SCHOOLS. STOP WASTING MONEY ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.MOST TEACHERS DO NOT REACH THEIR STUDENTS..................AND AND AND I WILL SAY AGAIN AGAIN WHERE ARE THE PARENTS ACCOUNTABILITY THEY ONLY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS WHEN A TEACHER TOUCHES THEIR BRATTS WHO ALWAYS UPSET THE CLASS. IF THEY WANT TO BE COMICS JOIN THE COMEDY CLUBS......
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