RE: Middle School/High School Changes

["Dale Courtney" <dmcourtn@moscow.com>]

Melynda Huskey writes: 

> A quick review of the research on high schools demonstrates, 
> as Tom Gregory 
> puts it, "since 1970, essentially all research favors the 
> creation of small 
> high schools."  Some advantages of small schools? Less crime 
> and violence, 
> fewer discipline problems, lower student tardiness and 
> absenteeism, and less 
> substance abuse and tobacco use by students; lower dropout 
> rates and higher 
> graduation rates; and higher and more varied extracurricular 
> participation. 
> Small schools are more effective in poorer communities and 
> make achievement 
> dramatically more equitable. Research suggests that many 
> schools are too 
> large to serve students well, and smaller schools are widely needed, 
> particularly in impoverished communities. (This information 
> is drawn from a 
> number of studies reviewed in the ERIC database--search 
> keywords "high 
> school" "size" and "research" for much more information.)

With those kinds of arguments, I take it that you will extrapolate this
to its logical conclusion -- that universal homeschooling produces the
best "product"!  :)

Dale