Hi Everyone, I need some help brainstorming. Our Elem school currently is a k-6 school. At 7th grade they go to the high school which is 7-12. I have lived in our town my entire life and attended both the Elem and High School. And although, I survived I know first hand that even 7th and 8th graders are exposed to way too much already and I strongly feel that we should not now expose our 6th graders too!! The entire reasoning behind this, that they would be able to elimate 2 teaching positions and save some money. There is a school board meeting this Thursday for parents input and I would love some help thinking of ideas and reasons why this is a BAD idea.

Here is what I've come up with so far:

There could be potenitally 11 years old interacting with 17 and 18 year olds on a daily basis!!

Early exposure to sex, drinking, drugs, etc.....

6th graders still need recess and child-like social time.

6th graders are more socially closer in age to 4 & 5th graders than 7, 8, 9th graders.

TIA for your help!

Samantha
GES PTO
President

Samantha, I think you are on the right track with the thoughts you have above, but you might do a little research on the internet through some education type websites and see if you can come up with some research that backs you up. You may be able to find some child psychology info too.

Also, don't forget to find like minded parents(and teachers, school pyschologists) at your school and get them to the meeting with you. A united front will wield a lot more influence then just one parent!

A quick search provided a couple of papers on not even having 6th graders in MIDDLE SCHOOL:

ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~maccoun/CookM...schkinVigdor2008.pdf

www.pubpol.duke.edu/research/papers/DAN07-01.pdf

If the district is committed to this, you might want to approach it from the angle: how can the HS be reconfigured to keep 6th (maybe 6-8) separate from the older kids? Eg, can you be sure to have separate lunchtimes? Separate lockers and restrooms? One wing of the school for 6-8, another 9-12? All to minimize interactions across large age ranges.

If you come up with enough of these hurdles, it might discourage them from proceeding.

This seems like a very harmful position to put 6th grade children in, would you really want your 12 year old hanging out with kids who drive??