The Middle School Movement Series

Early middle level leaders were deeply committed to improving middle level education in ways that benefit all young adolescents. This dedication resulted in reforms designed to address the shortcomings of junior high schools as well as other school organizations that include young adolescents. There was concern among some leaders that the early Middle School Movement did not have a clear ideology or identity. In retrospect, some leaders believed that too much emphasis in the early years was placed on the importance of puberty and structural changes in middle level schools, and that too little emphasis was focused on areas like middle level curriculum and democratic education. Other Legacy participants, however, believe that the Middle School Movement did have a clear ideology and identity—progressive education. Still other middle level leaders noted that the middle level ideology was not adequately shared with educators and others outside the leadership of the emerging Middle School Movement. Lipsitz pointed out that the Middle School Movement would have been more successful if early alliances had been formed among educators, policymakers, and others to advocate for middle level reforms. The creation of the landmark position paper, This We Believe, is also discussed in this video and the role this document played in helping define middle level education is expanded upon.

Although prominent middle leaders interviewed expressed somewhat differing views about the identity and ideology of middle level education, there was a great deal of agreement among them that has helped shape middle level education today and offers insight into future efforts that need to occur. Their advocacy for developmentally responsive middle level programs and schools was described by one leader as a moral imperative, and another recalled that there was an almost spiritual dimension to advocating for middle level schools that serve young adolescents well. This video includes many valuable lessons to be learned from pioneering middle leaders who have left an indelible legacy regarding the identity and ideology of middle level education.

свернуть