Many school systems have so much difficulty when it comes to educating students between the ages of 12 and 15. There seems to be perennial dissatisfaction with how public schools educate these "young adolescents." The grade configurations of schools varied, but the dominant pattern was eight years of primary school followed by four years…

Junior high school students on a field trip to Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay observed the fragile nature of a wetlands environment and learned the value of good conservation habits. (SH)

The objectives of this project were to determine (1) the basic dimensions of educational and career-related attitudes of black inner-city junior high school age students, and to compare these attitudes to those of their white counterparts, (2) how attitudes were related to the preference of educational programs expressed by these students, and (3)…

A middle school reform initiative, sponsored by the Program for Disadvantaged Youth of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation 4 years ago, has taken hold in 12 urban middle schools nationwide. The article discusses that reform, noting the lessons about change to accommodate student diversity that urban middle schools can teach. (SM)

This study evaluated the association between middle school students' perceived risk of fighting and actual fighting behavior, examining the effects of race, gender, and grade. Surveys indicated that perceived risk of fighting was high, and one in five students fought regularly. There were associations between race, gender, grade, and fighting. (SM)

First-year outcomes of a restructuring project in four Maryland middle schools are summarized in this paper, with a focus on new rules, roles, and relationships. Methodology involved interviews with 52 teachers and building administrators and 18 state department of education staff members; observation of school improvement teams; and document…

The mathematics curriculum activities presented in this guide were developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, and are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and…

THE STUDY OBJECTIVES WERE (1) TO EXAMINE THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING OF RULES WITHIN THE SCHOOL, (2) TO DETERMINE WHETHER CERTAIN LATENT BUREAUCRATIC CHARACTERISTICS EXIST IN THE SCHOOL AND THEIR RELATION TO RULES, AND (3) TO DEVELOP LIKERT SCALES, TO MEASURE CERTAIN STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL AND LATENT CHARACTERISTICS OF…

The science curriculum activities presented in this guide were developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, and are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and…

Developed as one component of a total career education demonstration project for Appalachian Maryland, the art curriculum activities presented in this guide are intended for use as supplements to the total middle or junior high school curriculum. Introductory material lists career education concepts and outlines career and occupational development…

The Maryland Functional Writing Program is designed to increase student performance in writing through improved instructional and assessment procedures. The Declared Competencies Index lists two writing goals supported by 39 objectives. A combination of direct and indirect writing assessment is used. (DWH)

This guide was developed for teachers who are using the Maryland Plan's group processes--the group project and line production methods. The guide is divided into four sections. The first section is an overview of the entire Maryland Plan. It describes the program which provides high school industrial arts students, from seventh grade through ninth…

Several career exploration workshops for nine teams of junior high school teachers, counselors, and administrators were held to: (1) provide an opportunity to learn about and develop skills applicable to the career exploration process, (2) assist the teams in the creation of career exploration program plans for their own schools, and (3) supervise…