Bexley K-6 for Strong Kids Petition to the Board of Education

As a former Montrose student, 1998 Bexley graduate and current teacher I encourage you to think twice about moving the 6th grade to the middle school. Sixth grade at an elementary school is where you develop your leadership skills and have opportunities to mentor students in younger grades. There isn't enough room at the middle school to add more students into the mix!

One of the things I admired most about Bexley schools is that my son was fortunate enough to spend his 6th grade year in his elementary school. Let's not rush these kids off to middle school! Let them have that year to grow and build confidence as individuals.

Need to review more research on this topic.

Keep sixth grade in elementary!

What are specific benefits to making this change? How will this improve or enhance the educational experience for 6th graders?

Kids in 6th grade need one more year in a child-oriented atmosphere. They benefit from being the leaders and have more time to mature in a safe, controlled environment.

Don't move them! I am a grad of Bexley.

I grew up and taught in a district where 6th grade students moved on to middle school. My children began in that same school. We moved to Bexley because it was unique, and we saw the impact that having 6th grade in the elementary school made. We have had 2 children transition to middle school in Bexley with 2 very different experiences. One was flawless while the other riddled with anxiety. Both of them have expressed how strongly they feel that 6th grade is a growing year and being at the top of their "elementary" school as a pre-teen helped them to better prepare for transition.

Social/Emotional growth is already rushed enough in this day and age. There is no need to speed things up in that realm, as long as kids are appropriately challenged academically.

Middle school is a strong growing physically and emotionally time for the kids. I think 6th graders are too young and need the extra year away from middle school to get some confidence and self security on many levels (social ,achedemic, sports )

My boys have grown up in the Bexley School system. We loved the fact that Bexley schools continued to view sixth grade as one that should still be at an elementary level. The kids are able grow and mature and be better prepared for the remainder of their education and their growing up!

I think 6th grade should stay with elementary. Otherwise I fear you will have a lot of 12 year olds growing up way to fast. Middle school is best just 7-8th.

I think the kids are to young at this age to be middle school.

If this is financial just say so.

Elementary school is a stage of gaining confidence, bliss, being yourself and meeting friends who are there for you until the end. Moving elementary school to the middle school will not only rush a child's life into becoming more mature, but could cause potential anxiety at a young age. Let the young students experience the reality of elementary school and not rush their childhood to improve. They will get to that in a few years.

This proposal is not a kid-centered choice.

Firm the committee

The reality is, that drugs, sex, etc starts in Middle School, especially at Bexley, as I was a student here, and now I am a parent here. I would like it if my student had less access to those things and earlier than necessary. Age 11 seems WAY too young to be exposed to the kinds of adult like behavior that goes on at Bexley Middle School.

I am very much in agreement with the comments above opposing the move of 6th grade to middle school both in terms of the poor and biased process of the proposal and the poorly supported arguments presented by the proposal itself. Information presented by the board is biased and even so, not convincing that there would be any significant benefit. Along with other parents, I too feel that there is a hidden agenda motivated by something other than what's best for our kids. Moreover, as a minority parent, I feel this final 6th year in elementary school is important for our children. The proposal does not take into account the negative impact of the move on minority students.

As many others stated, our elementary's do a great job with 6th grade and most students are not emotionally prepared for the social pressures of middle school. Another year in an environment where they feel safe and confident can only help their success as they transition into middle school. Please do not approve moving 6th grade to middle school. Mindi Myser