Should Middle Schools Be More Like High Schools?

Reader Comments
Back to blog

I am a senior in high school. In my english class, we just did a writing assignment on improvements that we believe the educational system needs.My groups proposed improvement was exactly what Florida is doing. I totally agree with the system. MIddle school curriculum should be cut out and more rigorous high school courses should be instilled. Middle school was waste a of time for me. I can not recall anything that I learned the prepared me for high school let along college. This system will enable students to compete with kids of other countries. This system should be implemented everywhere.

courtB of MO 7:30AM October 11, 2009

I am a senior in high school. In my english class, we just did a writing assignment on improvements that we believe the educational system needs.My groups proposed improvement was exactly what Florida is doing. I totally agree with the system. MIddle school curriculum should be cut out and more rigorous high school courses should be instilled. Middle school was waste a of time for me. I can not recall anything that I learned the prepared me for high school let along college. This system will enable students to compete with kids of other countries. This system should be implemented everywhere.

courtB of MO 7:30AM October 11, 2009

I believe the system is Florida is a good one because it will motivate students to keep learning more. Children should be praised for learning algebra in 6th grade, like my niece in FL. WHat's wrong with that?
Yes, it's not fair that minority students who did not have theirs parents graduate from college suffer by staying in regular classes. But that's why we have counselors in school so they can motivate you. Counselors and teachers should always make their students believe they can go at lest one step higher,then another...
Children today are MUCH smartere then we were. So they eat more junk food, but they can use computer at the age of 3. My child is 5 and knows more about Mac then I ever will, not to mention how to play Wii.
So let education move with the right time. It's about quality hours. What's the point spending 4 years in high school learning what should have been learned 3 years prior. Just to kill time?
I live in FL and there is a lot I don't like about living here, but this issue is actually one positive thing going for us.

CK of FL 6:10PM March 17, 2009

dumb liberals suing becaue their kid is not as smart or hardworking as other kids. I believe it! I feel sorry for educators.

sell of TX 11:06AM March 06, 2009

This article is pointing out the issue of second generation segregation where white students are the minority in a school yet are the overwhelming majority in advanced classes and Black and Hispanic are overrepresented in lower level classes. The reason that is a problem is because this is caused in some cases by minorities being placed in lower tracks or not receiving recommendations for placement in an advanced track during early grades despite having the same if not higher test scores than White students. Minority students may also be discouraged to enroll in advanced classes by teachers or guidance counselors though they have the grades to enroll in those classes. The reasons for the enrollment numbers in advanced classes are not as simple as they look.
However, I do believe this program in Florida should continue. They should advance students as far as possible but keep an eye out for the achievement of minority students, especially if the students in high school level courses significantly raise test scores so that the school doesn't have to fear sanctions from NCLB. NCLB does disaggregate data according to race though to help hold schools more accountable for educating all students. One of the few positives to NCLB.

Mario of NC 10:53PM March 01, 2009

There is a lot to be said about the AGE-APPROPRIATE curriculum that toured as "best practice". The further in time Education/Psychology gets from Piaget, the more research is done that proves his PSYCHOLOGY THEORY was just a slice of the possible truth. Far too much credence and practice on children is placed in the limited samples that Piaget used; apparently he had a great publicist.
Let children give things a try. The whole premise of Schooling at the moment is that ADULTS KNOW BEST, despite reams of research with results that prove, "the learner himself/herself knows best; although he/she might not be able to express it in educator/psychologist jargon".
Both my uninformed classroom experiences and subsequent reading of research literature convinces me that if a child (or adult) wants to learn something, his or her chronological age isn't going to prevent it. There are some physical skills that are unsuitable (e.g. infants driving 2000 pound cars) but when it comes to symbolic thinking, toddlers can hold their own with most adults. I've explained ∂r/∂t to seven year-olds and they understood it well enough that they were drawing graphs about it for the next two weeks - everything from racing toy cars to ripening fruit to learning math tables. What a learner can comprehend really depends on previous experiences, thoughtfully- structured current experiences and the discussions around the two.
When children are supported in learning conceptually using "concrete metaphors", (often in the form of discovery or exploratory experiences) then much is possible. In fact the earlier that learners wrestle with many concepts; the sooner they comprehend complexity, chaos and the likes of theoretical math with the power to better describe the functioning of the self-organizing world and civilization.

mary.russo 9:33PM February 28, 2009

That's exactly why No Child Left Behind should be named No Child Gets Ahead. Because minority students do not choose to sign up for such classes, NO students should be allowed to do so. America is in a scary place right now.

carrie ann of GA 7:29AM February 28, 2009

Honestly, I thought this article was going to talk about how the pressure to succeed and perform at high levels at a much younger age. But no, it turned out to be an offensive one.
By stating that "...some education experts are concerned about this trend in Florida and in other states is leaving minority students behind.
Why would you automatically assume that offering advanced classes you would leave "minority students" behind?
It is actually the "white" students who are minorities in that Florida school, since they only make up 23% of the student population.
If schools offer registration to advanced (high school classes) to everyone then there is no problem. There will always be different kinds of students those who excel academically those who don't, and there are alot in the middle. Just because "white" students make up the majority of the advanced classes doesn't make it discrimination. If other students aren't up to the standards, ability wise, then they don't and shouldn't be in advanced classes.
But high school classes in middle school is a little bit dicey. The brains of MOST middle school students have not matured enough to grasp abstract material such as Algebra II.

Ceeana of AZ 2:39PM February 26, 2009

middle schools

yvonne of IN 11:52AM February 25, 2009

What does race have to do with jr high kids taking higher math and science? If it's offered to everybody and you make the cut so be it. That's the way it is in the NFL and NBA. If you can't do the science or math your're never going to stop those who can. It's always been that way and always will. It's called natural law.

Richard Lewandowski of MI 6:09PM February 24, 2009