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Can school programs be shortened and enriched?
Harvard President Charles W. Eliot who was concerned about the inadequate preparation for college by high school students, raised this question in an address to the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association in February 1888. This presentation is generally recognized as the event that kicked off the movement to reorganize secondary education. -
Indianola Junior High School
This 6-8 school located in Columbus, Ohio is generally recognized as the first junior high school. -
Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education
This was the most famous of the many early committees that dealt with the reorganization issue. They had great influence on the infant junior high school movement. -
The Junior High School
Two books, each with this simple title were published this year by the movements for most leaders at the time, Thomas H. Briggs and Leonard V. Koos. Both volumes sought to define the fledgling institution and had considerable influence. -
The 8-year Study
This year the progressive education association began what is still the most comprehensive, long range, experimental research study on curriculum ever conducted. Although dealing mostly with high schools, the studies work on curriculum and instruction is completely Germane to middle level education. -
The Separate Junior High School becomes majority practice
By the late 1940s, the clearly predominate pattern of school organization in the US was the 6-3-3 that featured a junior high school apart from the senior high school. -
National Association for Core Curriculum
Most core or core-like programs were at the Junior High school level (wright). -
Mt. Kisco Conferences
Two small groups met to consider the middle school idea and generate educational specifications for a school that would serve "children in the middle of their public school life." -
William Alexander's "Middle School" Speech
Held at Cornell University, Alexander made the speech in which he first put forth the term "Middle School." Now he is rightfully considered the Father of the Middle School.