A curriculum conference for New York school administrators interested in the middle school concept concentrated on three objectives: (1) To gain insight into the principles of early adolescent education, (2) to become aware of the strengths of the various theoretical approaches of educating the adolescent, and (3) to look at the pragmatics of applying the theoretical concepts. Emphasized throughout 18 different addresses was the responsibility of academic transition assumed by the middle school. At the elementary level, the emphasis is on developing basic skills in a self-contained classroom; in high school the emphasis is on specialization in a subject-oriented program. Middle schools fit into this picture by building self-awareness in the student--thus aiding in the process of social adjustment--and by providing exploratory intellectual experiences in subject matters that are studied more intensely at the high school level. Administration, curriculum design, architectural design, and instructional techniques implied by the middle school are covered. A selected bibliography of 68 citations is appended. (LN)