RAND Education
2004
"Focus on the Wonder Years" is a euphemism for describing the lost years of middle schooling in the U.S., grades 6, 7 and 8, sometimes dubbed the "Bermuda Triangle" of American education. This RAND study, funded by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, reviews two decades of relevant literature and data to help explain the dismal academic performance of middle-schoolers and what can be done about it. The history of the middle school is dominated by demographics and educational theorists. Booms in student population provided a powerful incentive for building new schools for middle-school age students, thus relieving overcrowded elementary schools. Psychologists, fascinated by the cognitive and emotional changes of early adolescence, saw the middle-school years as a swell place to insert their theories, often to detrimental effect. By the 1950s, the "best thinking of the time" emphasized "integration," "exploration," "differentiation," "socialization," and "articulation" for early teens. Fast-forward to 2004. This report argues for disbanding middle schools altogether and replacing them with K-8 schools, which should focus on academic interventions for the low performing students, comprehensive disciplinary models that deal with problems early, quality professional development for teachers, and parental engagement with their children's schooling. The recommendations are sound. They're also standard fare. But the report is rigorous and detailed, a solid synthesis of sensible thinking about middle schools. To check it out for yourself go to http://www.rand.org/publications/MG/MG139/.
