The Middle School Movement

Throughout history the U.S school systems have changed quite a bit. During the 1900s to the 1960s the U.S school system was organized in different categories. Such as, some schools within the U. S were called junior high which was like a mini-version of high school. While other schools across the nation were more like a middle school approach. Nonetheless, a man named William Alexander had a enough and started the middle school movement, he realized along with other educators the need and importance to having a one system approach. For example, by having the one school system approach it open the reality of the truth behind junior high schools. Even though they helped prepare adolescents for high school without putting them in the same building with older teenagers it still delayed developments. While during the 1960s middle school supports argued that sixth-grade students benefitted from being separated from elementary students because it sped up their academic progress.

Nonetheless as I have pointed out, Alexander’s efforts did not come easily and have been questioned and picked apart throughout history. Despite, questions and concerns the
middle school movement allowed the schools to be more student forced. This simply means that a middle school age student is given the ability to have a better learning environment because it focuses on the individual student. Rather than just strictly just on subjects/content being taught. For example, if you were in are in a junior high school, your day would typical consist of more subject-centered classes and going from class to class. Typically, a junior high student would have anywhere between six to eight classes per day, which would include a free period also known as study hall. During that period the junior high student would work independently on assignments. With that being said, the typical outcome for a junior high student placed within a junior high school would be such as a miniature high school, training students to keep up with the books, assignments, and requirements of individual classes and teachers.
In the meantime, a middle school is more centrally age appropriate students.
This simply means that the students within the school would be grades six through eight and a typical day for them would look like. A more block class schedule system which allows for more coincides and collaborative lesson plan goals created by middle school teachers. This also would allow a middle school student the ability to students from different grades intermix to work on different projects. Middle school students in a block based schedule don’t have the same subjects everyday but they are allowed to have extra time to explore elective classes. These two key features for a middle school system allows for students to have that their ZPD and “magic middle” opportunity that is so helpful and useful for middle school age appropriate
students.
Despite, the positive outcome of having more middle school based system there too are some negative outcomes as well. For example, the block system doesn’t not help with have an organized routine that middle school age students need, another drawback is for parents who have students either at the elementary or high school level and now they have one extra stop to make.