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Middle School For some parents the turbulence of middle school is only the beginning. Fast changing bodies, along with new and sometimes dangerous new social pressures makes middle school a minefield for kids and parents. In the first days of school they will search for names they know and cling to anything familiar. They are struggling not only with new lockers and teachers, but also with guards, guns and other grown up stuff. When asked how she felt about entering middle school eleven year old Stevie’s response was, “Nervous, very nervous.” It is a time period filled with experimentation. Approximately thirty-nine percent of middle schoolers experiment with drugs, and most struggle with their sexuality. The best advice for parents is to be available to talk with them, but don’t push. “I don’t pressure him, into telling me. I just let him come to me on his own,” says Angela Brown of her son. Ten, eleven, and twelve year olds are no longer little kids, but they are not quite grown up. The middle school transition is one of the toughest. To help them get through this, Dr. Beverly Armento, an education expert, says to make sure the child feels comfortable confiding in you so that they won’t push away. |
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Middle School Issues Only about one fifth of U.S. eighth-graders take algebra. That figures rises close to 100% in countries that rank highest on international math tests. A Philadelphia study showed that 65% of middle school girls and 43% of boys had engaged in physical aggression against a member of the opposite sex. The American Association for the Advancement of Science rated “satisfactory” four of twelve common middle-school textbooks, and those four were not the textbooks used in most classrooms. Many teachers that teach math and science don’t have college training in those areas. (Source: USA Today) |
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What Parents Should Know The quality and effectiveness of middle school education in the United States is a controversial subject matter. There appear to be two major points of view on what middle schools should or should not be. It appears that middle school has typically been viewed as a place to focus on helping young students cope with their changing developmental and social needs. Many people are now criticizing this approach and are advocating an improvement in educational standards for this age range. Parents often pay less attention to their children at this age either because they view them as “big kids” now, or the child sees himself as being older and less needy.. This is actually on of the most critical times for a parent to be involved in a child’s life. In elementary and grade school there are fewer students and more commonality among groups. Middle schools are usually much larger and have students attending from a variety of backgrounds and social environments. With so many new things to face, it is natural for kids to explore. It is very important to keep relationships close and open which will help to keep curiosity |
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