The 'Middle Child" is the type of student who does not feel at home at Langley because, while they may be smart and academically focused, they are not academically superior like many of their peers. Nor are they outstanding in extracurricular activities. This student does not enjoy the prospect of coming to school to face the intense competition, which is ubiquitous in excellent schools, only to be disappointed.
There is no simple answer to this problem. In my id eal world every student will walk through the front door on September 2 with an exuberant, positive attitude and feel comfortable and be happy throughout the entire year. Of course that does not happen. As we start the school year, the Instructional Council will open dialogue with the general faculty and I will talk with parents at PTSA meetings and parent coffees to solicit your input and ideas. As the discussion continues with all the stakeholders, I am confident we will find a way to serve the 'Middle Child'."
from: Open Letter from John Dewey to the Principal of Langley High School
There are a number of terrific comments in the "middle child" thread at Joanne Jacobs.
Tracy W on the bell curve
Cheryl v_T on the principal's meaning:
and here is Tracy W on "rewarding for effort":
Right on all counts, as far as I'm concerned.
I'll add that when Tracy and her family celebrated effort, they were also celebrating achievement. When a 24-year old person must learn to walk again, taking two steps without help is an achievement. A big one.
Same principle with Tracy breezing through school: no one was asking her -- or helping her -- achieve something difficult for her.
This is the problem with bell curves and bell-curve thinking. You're measuring students against each other, not against themselves. In a bell-curve school educators have no way of knowing whether any student, including the kids at the top, is achieving what he is capable of achieving.
Yet another argument for value added assessments.
And for introducing the concept of the personal best into edu-culture.