What do families that do not get into an acceptable middle school do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you guys not remember middle school?!

There was real learning in high school. But not middle school. It isn't a race. 14 is just fine to start hard core academics (especially if the student is emotionally and academically ready from a positive middle school experience). I hope my kids read a lot of books in middle school. I hope they do projects and follow their interests. Home schooling middle school would be great for this but I'm not prepared to homeschool, so I am looking at what is happening re charters and considering progressive private schools that end in 8th grade.

I have to disagree. When I was in middle school, that's when school got really serious. I was in an advanced English class and for the first time in my life I received a D. It was shock and a wake up call. That English teacher did a real favor for me because she taught me how to construct a essay, and that carried with me into undergrad. I will never forget her.

I learned how to organize an essay from a great teacher my freshmen year of high school and carried that blueprint through all my academics. I do remember sentence diagramming in middle school - that was fun. I also remember reading lots of books on my own (and getting in trouble in class for it). That's about it academically. But I could write you pages and pages about the girls I went to school with. That is where all my attention was - and I wish what I learned from all those interactions was more positive and useful since it is emblazoned on my mind for all eternity. But the school didn't focus on social at all - it focused on its academic curriculum, about which I remember nothing except the parts of a sentence. And I was in all advanced classes and did great on standardized tests and decent in grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you guys not remember middle school?!

There was real learning in high school. But not middle school. It isn't a race. 14 is just fine to start hard core academics (especially if the student is emotionally and academically ready from a positive middle school experience). I hope my kids read a lot of books in middle school. I hope they do projects and follow their interests. Home schooling middle school would be great for this but I'm not prepared to homeschool, so I am looking at what is happening re charters and considering progressive private schools that end in 8th grade.

I remember middle school and I learned a lot including French, how to write a persuasive essay in English, the scientific method, algebra/geometry, etc so I was on track to take APs; calculus BC, English, physics, chemistry, etc in high school. Education needs to be built on a solid foundation and middle school was never a waste land but it sounds like some posters and DCPS treat it as a "place holder" for high school. No thanks.

Leaving for private for middle school and we are at a DCI feeder. It'll be sad to go but an elite private with a proven track record vs an unproven middle and high school makes it an easy choice.

Well I'm not talking about not learning the scientific method or not taking pre-algebra or not writing essays. I wasn't saying NON academic. (and tell me what middle school dcum posters would consider would not teach these things - not me and I am the poster everyone is arguing with). Foreign language in middle school is something I didn't have, and I think I would have been better served by starting in ms rather than high school. I agree especially with the poster who said managing how students feel about academics is just as important as the academics themselves in middle school (I woudl add especially for boys who seem to start thinking of themselves as bad students in late elementary school and middle school).

The choice (I hope) isn't between academic placeholder and academic powerhouse. I don't want either, especially if social well-being isn't at least sharing top billing with academic curriculum.

[Anonymous]

My alma mater brought you Apple and Wikipedia.

It has a 45% acceptance rate. And you're welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My alma mater brought you Apple and Wikipedia.

It has a 45% acceptance rate. And you're welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My alma mater brought you Apple and Wikipedia.

It has a 45% acceptance rate. And you're welcome.

don't forget Dr. Demento!

[Anonymous]

And our very own Yes man!