Although James Bean's volume "A Middle School Curriculum: From Rhetoric to Reality" seems a bit redundant at this point in the constantly developing theories of education he makes several very strong points that need not be overlooked. By redundant I mean that since and prior to the volume's copyright in 1990, the points Bean makes are repeated in articles dealing with new education quite often. This in fact does not detract from what Bean says but makes it clear to me that research is proving these theories to be tested and effective. I feel strongly that not only is it important for the middle school curriculum to balance social, academic, and democratic development but these themes are significant throughout education to include elementary, high school, and college. It is my understanding that Bean is proposing that these themes are more important in middle school given the significant steps in cognitive, social, and psychological development of that age range compared to those of elementary and high school. I think maybe his themes and theories can be applied across the board (K-12+) and I also think these things are happening in some schools already and true to our democracy, it is the sole responsibility of the people (teachers, parents, students) to make these changes take place on a broader scale...
more to come...
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