WEST GEAUGA MIDDLE SCHOOL
PHILOSOPHY

            The middle school age is a unique time for most young people.  Between the ages of eleven and fourteen most students go through dramatic changes.  These changes are physical, emotional, social, and intellectual.  During these years, students’ attitudes toward freedoms and responsibilities fluctuate according to the amount of security and self-confidence they feel.

          Planned experiences for students will help them deal with the freedoms and responsibilities in our society.  Therefore, these experiences should provide practice in handling responsibility.  Students should become more independent with the help of parents and school personnel.

          The middle school should provide students with a well-rounded background in the major academic disciplines as well as other basic skills.  It should offer the opportunity to explore art, computers, music, foreign language, life skills, industrial technology, and career education.  The extra curricular programs are important and provide experiences that are valuable to the growth of students.  The curriculum should encourage self-motivation and nurture creative thinking.

      Positive student attitudes and feelings about life and themselves are important.  Pupils should be given the opportunity to think about their place in the world, objectives in life, and plans for achieving these objectives.  The experience should encourage self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-respect.  The student should develop the ability to work with people, to relate with others, and to respect the rights of all.

       Understanding, sensitivity and knowledge of subject matter are necessary to help students develop positive and responsible attitudes toward life.  The most important activity in school is the learning process.