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Middle school (also known as '''intermediate school''' or '''junior high school''') covers a period of education that straddles Primary / Elementary Education and Secondary Education , serving as a bridge between the two. The terms can be used in different ways in different countries, sometimes interchangeably. Thus in some governmental and institutional contexts, "Middle school" may be used as no more than an alternative name to "junior high school", or it might imply a pedagogical shift away from primary and secondary school practices. The concept itself dates back to 1909, with the founding of Indianola Junior High School in Columbus, Ohio . MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A PEDAGOGY Although 'Middle School' in some countries can be a simple renaming of the junior high school practice, in other places the term has also developed a particular pedagogical meaning. Middle Schooling as a Pedagogy has as a major premise that the special academic, socio-emotional and organizational discontinuities marked in many children aged somewhere between 10 to 15 years (around Grades or education Years 5 to 8 or 9), justifies an appropriate educational (not just organisational) response. Students need, for example, to develop their identity, take risks (and yet be confident there is a safety net), and be challenged to become more independently organised. Part of learning to socialize with others whist becoming better socially adept when experiencing the unfamiliar (and perhaps as yet untamed) influences of hormonal changes characteristic of early puberty is also a part of the puzzle, as is the fact that the males aged 16+ are generally well into a new growth phase and generally dwarf the adolescents earlier in their life cycle, thereby posing an unconscious, if not real threat. In short, Middle Schools tend to allow groups of like sized and experienced individuals keep in close company with their contemporaries and concurrently exclude those both younger and older which may be deleterious influences and-or threats to those of a younger age group. Examining middle school practices elsewhere, the Australian Curriculum Studies Association in the 1990s identified the following principles operating in an effective Middle Schooling curriculum: the Middle School is
The practical effects of such principles might include
ASIA China In the People's Republic Of China , middle schools (chuzhong or 初中) refer to years 7–9. It covers the last 3 years of the 9-year Compulsory Education , which is supposed to be free but in fact is subject to fees. At the end of the last year, the college-bound students take exams to enter High School (gaozhong or 高中) others wishing to continue their training may enter Technical High School (中学专科/中专) or Vocational School (职业学校). Japan In Japan , junior high schools, which cover years seven through nine, are called ''chū gakkō'' (中学校, literally, middle school). They are referred to as "junior high schools" in most conversations in English but are referred to by MEXT as "lower secondary schools". (See Secondary Education In Japan .) South Korea In the Republic Of Korea , a middle School is called ''junghakgyo'' (중학교, 中學校) which includes grades 7 through 9. India In India , middle School consists of classes 5th, 6th and 7th. Indonesia In Indonesia , a middle School is called ''Sekolah Menengah Pertama'' (SMP). It consists grades 7, 8, 9. Previously 1, 2, 3. For example SMPN 252 consists grade 7, 8, 9. And previously SLTP (Sekolah Lanjutan Tingkat Pertama) 252 consists grade 1, 2, 3 The Philippines In the Philippines , what is referred to as middle School generally consists of the grades 4 through 6. In the Philippines , there is no such thing as Middle School . It goes Kindergarten, Grade One, Grade Two, Grade Three, Grade four, Grade Five, Grade Six, Grade 7(Some private schools), First Year High School , Second Year High School , Third Year High School , and finally Fourth Year of High School . Taiwan Taiwan ese junior high schools (3-year) were originally called ''chuzhong'' (初級中學, 初中; "primary middle school"). However, in August 1968, they were renamed ''guozhong'' (國民中學, 國中; "citizen middle school") when they became free of charge and compulsory. Private middle school nowadays are still called ''chuzhong''. Taiwanese junior high schools are attended normally by those older than twelve. Accompanied with the switch from junior high to middle school was the cancellation of entrance examination needed to enter senior high school. AUSTRALASIA Australia In 1996 and 1997 a national conference met to develop what became known as the National Middle Schooling Project , which aimed to develop a common Australian view of
As Of 2007 , the Northern Territory has introduced a Three Tier System featuring Middle Schools for years 7-9 (approx ages 11-14) and high school year 10-12. New Zealand In New Zealand intermediate schools cover years 7 and 8 (formerly known as form 1 and 2) in areas where the local primary schools teach year 1 to year 6 students. Many primary schools however, do teach year 7 and 8. These primary schools may have a relationship with a nearby intermediate school to teach manual training classes such as woodwork. Recently, however, Junior High Schools covering years 7-10 (the four years between primary and , Auckland. EUROPE Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia In the countries of former Yugoslavia , srednja škola (literally translated as Middle School) refers to age between 14 and half - 15 and 18, and lasts 2-4 years since elementary school (which lasts 8 or 9 years). The final four years of elementary school are actually what would be called junior high school in USA. Students have up to 12-13 different subjects in each school year (most of them only two 45-minute class periods per week). For example, 8th grade students do not have one subject called Science but three separate subjects called Chemistry, Physics and Biology. United Kingdom In the United Kingdom , some English Local Education Authorities introduced Middle Schools in the 1960s and 1970s . The notion of Middle Schools was mooted by the Plowden Report of 1967 which proposed a change to a three-tier model including First School s for children aged between 5 and 8, Middle Schools for 8–12 year-olds, and then Upper or High Schools for 12–16 year-olds. Some authorities introduced Middle Schools for ideological reasons, in line with the report, while others did so for more pragmatic reasons relating to the Raising Of The School Leaving Age in compulsory education to 16. Different authorities introduced different age-range schools, although in the main, three models were used:
In addition, some schools were provided as Combined School s catering for pupils in the 5–12 age range as a combined first and middle school. Around 2000 middle and combined schools were in place in the early 1980s . However, that number began to fall in the later 1980s with the introduction of the National Curriculum . The new curriculum's splits in Key Stage s at age 11 encouraged the majority of Local Education Authorities to return to a two-tier system of Primary and Secondary School s. Under current legislation, all middle schools must be deemed either primary or secondary. Thus, schools which accept pupils up to age 12 are entitled middle-deemed-primary, while those accepting pupils aged 13 or over are entitled '''middle-deemed-secondary'''. For statistical purposes, such schools are often included under primary and secondary categories "as deemed". Notably, most schools also follow teaching patterns in line with their deemed status, with most deemed-primary schools offering a primary-style curriculum taught by one class teacher, and most deemed-secondary schools adopting a more specialist-centred approach. Some Middle Schools still exist in various areas of England. The are supported by the National Middle Schools' Forum . A list of Middle Schools In England is available. In Scotland a similar system was trialled in Grangemouth , Falkirk between 1975 and 1987 . (See Grangemouth Middle Schools article) NORTH AMERICA The definition of "middle school" is muddied somewhat because, in North America n contexts, "secondary education" quite frequently means post-compulsory ( High School level) education, encompassing such diverse institutions as "English as a second language" schooling, Trade School s and Certificate Program s, as well as other intermediate options such as Junior College s, four-year College s and full Universities . Canada and the United States Middle school is often used instead of junior high school when demographic factors increase the number of younger students. {Link without Title} Definition of junior high school, accessed June 12 , 2007 Advocated by groups such as the National Middle School Association , the middle school concept is a relatively new model for the middle-level grades, contrasted with the more traditional junior high concept. North American children at this level are educated either at junior high schools or at middle schools, depending on location. Middle schools are usually grades 6, 7, and 8, varying from area to area. The other common inclusion is 5th grade, or only grades 7 and 8, or grades 7, 8 and 9. Junior high schools are designed similarly to High School s. The Faculty is organized into Academic Department s which operate more or less independently of one another. This is meant as a Hybrid , to ease the Transition from Elementary School to high school for students. Sometimes they are called Intermediate schools. The middle school concept, however, often involves a group of two to eight teachers from different disciplines working as a team with the same group of students of the same grade level, with each teacher teaching a different subject. This format facilitates Interdisciplinary units, where part or all of the entire team teaches on the same general topic from the perspective of different disciplines. In some school systems, students attend intermediate schools before or after middle school; in others, students attend middle school before moving on to junior high school. In most cases, however, the middle school (according to the middle school concept) is seen as an alternative and a replacement to the junior high and intermediate school. The middle school format has now replaced schools using the junior high format by a ratio of about ten to one in the U.S. In Canada, the junior high concept is primarily seen in Western Canada , while middle schools to US-standards are generally only seen in Ontario and parts of Atlantic Canada , where they are sometimes called senior elementary schools. Many People also call Middle School Junior High School. ''See also: Secondary Education In The United States , Education In Canada .'' Mexico In Mexico, the middle school system is called "secundaria" ("secondary") and comprises grades 7-9 and is completed after primary (1-6) and before preparatory (10-12). PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The National Middle School Association (NMSA) was founded in 1973. It now claims over 30,000 members representing principals, teachers, central office personnel, professors, college students, parents, community leaders, and educational consultants across the United States, Canada, and 46 other countries. An equivalent organisation operates in the UK under the name of The National Middle Schools' Forum . FURTHER READING
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