Turning Points 2000 Chapters 1 and 2

The first two chapters of this text are outline the original Turning Points system that this book is based on. The original system had 8 basic principles to improving middle schools. These principles are outlined on page 2 and include standards such as dividing large middle schools into smaller communities, reorganizing schools to ensure success for all students, promoting good health, and involving families and the community in schooling. While schools that utilized the original Turning Points system showed notable improvements in test scores, there are still many improvements to be made, as well as many middle schools (notably in poor, urban areas) that are slipping through the cracks. In order to continue change and growth in the area of middle education, the original Turning Points system was adapted and expanded to bring learning to the 21st century. These new principles are explored in Turning Points 2000 by Anthony W. Jackson and Gayle A. Davis. It is important that we pay special attention to middle level education, rather than grouping it with either elementary or secondary levels. This is due to the age group of middle school students: early adolescence. Early adolescence is a time of great change and growth for students—academically, socially, mentally, and physically. Due to puberty, early adolescence is “when growth and development is more rapid than during any other development stage except that of infancy” (7). Middle school is a time of great change and also of great risk, as students are being introduced to sexual relationships, drugs, and alcohol. As students learn to tackle these new challenges, as well as social and academic pressures, early adolescence is said to be a time that is crucial in determining how that student behaves in high school and beyond.