Is middle school miserable for most kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

My kid hd a very happy sixth grade year. That said, I much prefer the system I had in the Midwest in the 80s where sixth grade was elementary and 7-9 was junior high. 6th graders really are still children and should not be with eight graders.

Yes, it bothers me that here 20 years ago they moved 6th grade into the middle school, too. I think our District does a good job with it, in the sense that they have their own academic building, and you may have the same teacher for 2 subjects (Math and Science OR SS and ELA) rather than one, and stuff like that. But yeah, they are still so young and mostly have not gone far through puberty.... and there are 8th graders who are 6' with beards and look like grown men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

I am sorry by grades are a savor for my middle school child. Some kids thrive in more academic environments. What you are proposing would be hell for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

There are very few districts around me that ES is still k-5 and only lime two that are k-6. I was in MS in the mid 90s that was 6-8. I didn't like it or understand it then. I think if there is going to be middle school/junior high then it should be 7th and 8th. Although my sibling went to a k-8 and she and her friends loved it. It helped them stay kids a little longer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

There are very few districts around me that ES is still k-5 and only lime two that are k-6. I was in MS in the mid 90s that was 6-8. I didn't like it or understand it then. I think if there is going to be middle school/junior high then it should be 7th and 8th. Although my sibling went to a k-8 and she and her friends loved it. It helped them stay kids a little longer

We have a K-8 as our IB school and it sucks because the middle school kids are unruly and all over the place and while they are physically separated from the little kids it impacts the culture of the school -- they have very strict rules and it's not always a very nurturing environment because the admin and teaching staff seem to have a distrust of the kids due to seeing what some of the 7th and 8th grade kids are capable of. It also means that if those kids bring alcohol or cigarettes to school they are in a building with 5 year olds with that crap.

We ran far far from that school before our kid was enrolled. I think K-8s are a really bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

Yikes no, it’s the opposite. MS kids are ready for challenges and independence. Babying them is the opposite of what they need. Academics and grades are totally appropriate. They also don’t generally need adult-led “social emotional” lessons; but guidance on how to resolve the issues that come up.

[Anonymous]

East coast schools had 6-8 middle schools beginning in the early 1960s. I think most schools do a good job separating the 6th graders. If the schools are successful at it I think it’s a nice transition between elementary and middle school.

[Anonymous]

7th was really tough, but my kid did well in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

Yikes no, it’s the opposite. MS kids are ready for challenges and independence. Babying them is the opposite of what they need. Academics and grades are totally appropriate. They also don’t generally need adult-led “social emotional” lessons; but guidance on how to resolve the issues that come up.

I don't think it's babying them. Sure, you can ramp school work up a little bit, but don't forget that they're still kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

There are very few districts around me that ES is still k-5 and only lime two that are k-6. I was in MS in the mid 90s that was 6-8. I didn't like it or understand it then. I think if there is going to be middle school/junior high then it should be 7th and 8th. Although my sibling went to a k-8 and she and her friends loved it. It helped them stay kids a little longer

We have a K-8 as our IB school and it sucks because the middle school kids are unruly and all over the place and while they are physically separated from the little kids it impacts the culture of the school -- they have very strict rules and it's not always a very nurturing environment because the admin and teaching staff seem to have a distrust of the kids due to seeing what some of the 7th and 8th grade kids are capable of. It also means that if those kids bring alcohol or cigarettes to school they are in a building with 5 year olds with that crap.

We ran far far from that school before our kid was enrolled. I think K-8s are a really bad idea.

ITA. Even our 5th grade at our PK3-5th was unruly and needed a different approach. Unless the school has separate space and administration for the upper grades, the academic and developmental needs are just too different. Starting 6th grade at a 6-8th school fully staffed by teachers and admins who really get those lil crazy buggers was so much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

Yikes no, it’s the opposite. MS kids are ready for challenges and independence. Babying them is the opposite of what they need. Academics and grades are totally appropriate. They also don’t generally need adult-led “social emotional” lessons; but guidance on how to resolve the issues that come up.

I don't think it's babying them. Sure, you can ramp school work up a little bit, but don't forget that they're still kids.

It’s absolutely babying and underestimating them to roll back academics even further. And it’s boring for them too, which makes behavior and mental health even worse. Kids at this age have the highest brain capacity to memorize and learn; yet adults want to treat them like toddlers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is usually miserable for so many kids it makes me wonder why it even exists. Or what could be done, if anything to make it better.

I mean the concept of middle school is fairly recent. Elementaries used to go through 6th grade and then you either had a junior high (7-9th) and high school (10-12) or in rare cases a combined high school that was 7-12.

At some point they figured out that separating all the super hormonal kids at peak puberty from everyone else would at least make elementary school and high school a bit better. But I don't think they've ever really figured out how to make middle school better serve the needs of this age group. I think a lot of it has to do with our discomfort as a society with kids sexually maturing. But it's made worse by increased pressure on kids academically. So basically middle school kids are given too little support with puberty and hormonal changes but are simultaneously told that if they aren't smart and accomplished enough it will ruin their entire lives. It's a recipe for disaster.

I feel like we should approach middle school like early childhood education. With a different focus of course but the same idea -- major focus on life skills and socio-emotional learning and then wrap the academics up in that package. But basically no focus on grades -- just meeting academic and developmental benchmarks and acclimating to the increased expectations of high school.

There are very few districts around me that ES is still k-5 and only lime two that are k-6. I was in MS in the mid 90s that was 6-8. I didn't like it or understand it then. I think if there is going to be middle school/junior high then it should be 7th and 8th. Although my sibling went to a k-8 and she and her friends loved it. It helped them stay kids a little longer

We have a K-8 as our IB school and it sucks because the middle school kids are unruly and all over the place and while they are physically separated from the little kids it impacts the culture of the school -- they have very strict rules and it's not always a very nurturing environment because the admin and teaching staff seem to have a distrust of the kids due to seeing what some of the 7th and 8th grade kids are capable of. It also means that if those kids bring alcohol or cigarettes to school they are in a building with 5 year olds with that crap.

We ran far far from that school before our kid was enrolled. I think K-8s are a really bad idea.

Fair enough, but I do think middle school is a pretty bad idea as well.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is often miserable. The kids are testing out growing up and for some reason part of that for a lot of them is being mean. My son’s good friends would say mean things to him all the time right in front of me. And my son explained that it was nothing compared to what most kids say. I think it also becomes a battle ground for popularity. Which I guess is where the mean comes from.

The teachers are also really mean. I am guessing they almost have to be - or they all are on the edge due to misbehaving kids and classrooms full of body odor. If half of what my sons said teachers said is true, it is a total hell house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids did not have any issues in middle school. For me, it absolutely sucked. Totally depends on a number of things.

+1, my kids liked middle school just fine. For me as a parent, it was hell.

[Anonymous]

It wasn't miserable for me, in the sense that I was not teased or picked on, but except for two friends that I had since elementary, I was generally politely ignored, for the most part. So not especially enjoyable.