Federal court cases are examined in an effort to view recent First Amendment rights infringements which have occurred in Mississippi. Case law reinforces students' rights to wear same-sex outfits to school functions as well as to bring same-sex dates. Connection to a recent civil rights investigation by the NAACP into a north Mississippi middle…

The dramatic ups and downs so often witnessed in adolescents are the result of changes in their brain activity. It is vital that the emotional and psychological needs that arise from such intense brain development are acknowledged and addressed so that middle school becomes a safe environment for the budding adults.

Middle-level education has become a fixture in our educational system. This collection of essays provides the opportunity for readers to examine current policies, programs, and practices in light of recent developments at the middle level. Nine essays include: (1) "Why Middle Schools?" (Donald Eichhorn); (2) "Organizing Middle Level Schools To…

Safety and security are crucial parts of a functioning educational facility. Despite an apparent slowdown in security threats and particularly dramatic incidents of violence, thanks to heightened vigilance, student safety is still a fundamental concern, made more complex by our times, experts say. According to Kenneth S. Trump, president of the…

This document consists of a final report and executive summary. The report is that of a project involving eight college and university faculty who were given the responsibility of developing new versions of introductory level geography courses. The plan of the project involved bringing together college or university professors, local school…

It is recommended that schools incorporate literacy in all aspects of the curriculum. In this way, students begin to understand that reading and writing are not just for English class--they are skills that are important for many parts of daily life. This does not mean that teachers need to take time away from their other subjects to achieve this…

The goal of this practicum was to increase the number of students enrolled in the middle school and high school chorus. A secondary goal was to introduce teachers to group process, as a method of writing curriculum. To meet both ends, the subject of recruitment was incorporated into the curriculum plan. The practicum was conducted in a public…

Discusses problems with existing social studies curriculum, including the dichotomy between in-depth studies and coverage studies, lack of correlation with other fields of instruction, and uncertainty about the appropriate sequential development of concepts. A master plan for social studies curriculum, focusing on grades five through eight, is…

During the 1960s and early 1970s two educational movements were the evolution of the middle school and the structures of disciplines approach to social studies. These movements involved school organization, curriculum development, and methodologies incorporating the inquiry or conceptual approach. Learners had trouble with the conceptual approach,…

Middle school transition brings with it considerable change for those involved. Using corporate and industrial management theories and practices presents a rationale for wholesale and comprehensive educational change. (six references) (MLF)

Tips are offered on how to ease the transition of students from elementary to middle level or junior high schools. A teacher-advisor program is proposed, and staff development modules are suggested to help teachers assist students in the transition process. (TE)

Middle schools are here to stay. The overriding purpose of middle-level education continues to be that of providing programs based on the unique characteristics, needs, and interests of middle-level students. (Author/TE)

A principal shares principles and practices involved in achieving excellence in a middle school. (DCS)

The middle school reading/literature instructor needs to determine where each student is in reading achievement and then assist each to achieve as optimally as possible. What might the teacher do to assist students to become good middle school readers? A major problem of middle schoolers is to be able to recognize a certain percent of words…

Proper documentation of strategies and results is crucially important for identifying problems and benchmark successes in the education of special needs students. In this article, the author shares the guidelines he provides to teachers at his school in the hopes of minimizing administrative tasks while ensuring that educators are familiar with…