This collection of essays provides extensive background information and varied views on the history, philosophy, and curriculum of the middle school as a movement or as an educational design for pre- and early adolescents. After a brief prologue by editor John H. Lounsbury, 14 essays by separate authors are presented: "The Junior High School: Successes and Failures" by George E. Melton; "The Middle School Emerges and Flourishes" by William M. Alexander; "The Nature of Transescents" by Donald H. Eichhorn; "The Functions of Middle Level Schools" by Gordon F. Vars; "Middle School Instructional Organization: An Emerging Consensus" by Paul S. George; "Balance in the Middle School Curriculum" by Mary F. Compton; "Selecting Appropriate Instructional Strategies" by Alfred A. Arth; "The Generics of Middle School Teaching" by Nancy Doda; "Administering a Middle School" by Elliot Y. Merenbloom; "Preparing Teachers for the Middle School" by C. Kenneth McEwin; "Staff Development and In-Service Education" by Conrad F. Toepfer, Jr.; "A Synthesis of Research Findings on Middle Level Education" by J. Howard Johnston; and "The Development of the National Middle School Association" by Winston Pickett. An epilogue follows, also by the editor, entitled "Unfinished Business: An Agenda for the Next Decade." Appended are a list of the presidents of the National Middle School Association (NMSA), a directory of the authors in this volume, and a list of NMSA publications.(TE)