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CHARACTERISTICS OF NEBRASKA MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Abstract
The middle school has evolved into the predominate form of middle grade organization. Because of declining enrollments in many of Nebraska's largest districts, the middle school concept was studied and considered for adoption as an alternative in middle grade education. However, little was known about middle school education in Nebraska. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to define middle schools by the characteristics in the curricular and instructional plans and to assess to what degree Nebraska middle schools were in agreement with these characteristics. Research Design. The review of literature produced 37 characteristics which in a series of steps were reduced to nine essential instructional and curricular characteristics of middle school education. A questionnaire was designed based on these nine characteristics and administered to all 24 principals in Nebraska schools called middle schools. A 100 percent return was received. On-site visitations were conducted in a representative group of schools to check on the reliability of the data received in the questionnaire. Conclusions. From the study of the literature the instructional and curricular practices can be reduced to nine essential characteristics. Some of the conclusions that were drawn from the review of the questions include (a) basic skill instruction is strongly emphasized, (b) the majority of the schools have a secondary oriented guidance program, (c) the concept of exploration existed to varying degrees, (d) the concept of individualization was addressed but narrowly defined, (e) in-service education on middle school topics was greatly needed, (f) interdisciplinary teaching teams existed but effected only a minority of teachers and students, and (g) the transition concept from elementary to secondary schools had been seriously addressed. Recommendations. Some of the recommendations include: (1) Guidelines need to be developed by the Nebraska State Department of Education concerning exemplary practices of middle schools. (2) In-service programs in Nebraska are needed on topics of middle school characteristics. (3) Case studies on converting junior highs to middle schools are needed.
Subject Area
School administration
Recommended Citation
BRADLEY, LARRY E, "CHARACTERISTICS OF NEBRASKA MIDDLE SCHOOLS" (1986). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8624579.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8624579