Culture Shock

Several board members had an opportunity to visit Mt. Nittany Middle School last Monday. We spent part of our time talking to building principal, Jason Perrin – a conversation I always find fascinating and illuminating. When asked what had changed in the seven years he’s been there, one thing he mentioned was that we now consistently get a number of student transfers from outside our area. This can present certain challenges.

In addition to the issue of appropriate academic placement - a seventh grader from another school does not always have the same academic background as a seventh grader in State College – there is also the possibility of gaps in the students “social” experience - particularly if the student comes from an environment that had a different set of behavioral norms.

This difference of experience can result in a bit of culture shock – for the parents, as well as the students. New parents will sometimes ask: where are the metal detectors?  Why is it so quiet in the halls?  Where are the bullies?  It often takes students a few weeks to realize they don’t have to be ready to defend themselves at a moment’s notice.

It is not impossible to create a similar culture at a large urban school, but there is often so much organizational inertia that it requires the presence of a strong no-nonsense leader such as Lorraine Monroe, (former deputy Chancellor of the New York City public school system) who spoke at the PSBA conference last week.

The other way to accomplish this is through conscious and intentional effort, using programs (such as Planet Peace) that specifically address the developmental needs of this age group. This approach reflects the national middle school philosophy, which emphasizes (in addition to a challenging curriculum), comprehensive support services and policies that foster health, wellness and safety.