Notes from New England Middle School Symposium
       
       
 

Policy makers and dedicated educators from the six New England states assembled this month at Hampton NH to attend the Third Annual New England League of Middle Schools Symposium. The focusing theme was this question: “How can effective middle level education be supported by policy that informs and influences local middle level decisions?”

The Vermont Delegation included: Linda Bourne- VAMLE Executive Director, StuartWeiss- FHTuttle Middle School Principal and VAMLE President, Julie Peterson-Southeast VT Learning Collaborative, a VT regional Education Service Agency,Sherry Lussier- Orleans Elementary School Guidance, Heather Schneider-VT Dept.of Ed, Middle Level Consultant, David White-VT Dept of Ed. Division Director, Wayne Bell-Mount Anthony Middle School educator.

Betty Edwards, Executive Director of the National Middle School Association

gave participants background information on the purpose for the “Success In TheMiddle” Act now in Congress and the Senate and emphasized the need for educatorsto be actively contacting their legislators as the reauthorization of NCLB is being pushed forward. Action on these bills is imminent and without authentic support will not help further the focus on the 50% of the population currently being assessed and determining the success of schools. “We need to advocate for NCLB reauthorization with Legislators (Sen. Kennedy Chair) WITHIN THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS. Reauthorization can allow Middle Level inclusion language and structure
to this legislation. Without reauthorization NCLB will remain in force, unchanged.”

Articles
Calendar
Information
Membership
Opportunities
Recognition
 
   
 
 
Bob Spear, NELMS Executive Director, in an overview speech challenged participants to determine “What conditions are needed for higher level learning? What is best for kids?” He also quoted Ken McEwin NMSA researcher who spoke at the first Symposium, reminding us of his phrase that if nothing is done we could be accused of “malpractice in the middle”. In order to accomplish such lofty goals we “need reliable resources, data, and one voice. We need Middle School trained leadership. It’s all about learning.”
 
The Symposium also relied on “experts from the field” for information to guide their state level discussions. Despite freezing rain and sleet, some middle level students were still able to attend and offer up advice for educators, based on their own experiences. A student panel (which was supposed to be 6 students representing 3 schools) answered questions about their learning, peer interactions, and school climate in a thoughtful and informative manner. An engaging 6th grader, Melissa Brennan from Pennichuck Middle School also had insights based on her transition from Elementary school to a Middle School in Nashua NH. 
 
 
 

As a result of this opportunity to get valid information from experts and to participate in discussions with other New England teams and our own state level discussions we created some action steps which will be fully delineated by the state Middle Level Task Force at their meeting in March. Considerations are being given to forwarding Middle Level endorsement, publication of a practitioners guide to replace the now outdated “Middle Still Matters”, and a state level symposium, giving all state educators an opportunity to provide feedback in shaping these documents.
 
 
VAMLE