The data on PPS middle school plan
To the editor: In the mid- to late-1970s, Pittsfield closed down a bunch of the old red brick schools, replacing them with two community schools.
In order to be on top of the most modern trends, they used the open classroom approach. This was where you placed a bunch of young kids in big rooms without walls, opening them up to every distraction known to man. Of course, it did not take long to realize this was a bad idea, and up went walls.
Today, the plan is to put all of the kids in the early teen years in one building. (鈥淭he Pittsfield School Committee has approved moving forward with a plan to restructure the city鈥檚 middle schools,鈥 Eagle, June 26.) There have been no real details given about how this will work, but we are asked to trust the administration. I鈥檇 like to, but Pittsfield has not figured out middle school education. Per the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Pittsfield consistently has been the second-highest system for students leaving via school choice following Springfield, a city with nearly four times the population. It is not because our neighboring communities have newer buildings. It is because parents believe the other systems do a better job. In fact, many kids never step foot in a city school 鈥 and those who come back are just a small portion of those who leave.
So before we embark on a massive change, I would want to know three things.
What other communities in Massachusetts (and in New England) have made this change?
How many years have they been doing it, listed by district?
What documented improvements in student performance have occurred (by district)?
I don鈥檛 have the appetite to be a pioneer. We have one middle school in the bottom 1 percent statewide, and the other is in the 14th percentile. That means they are very low-performing 鈥 almost nonperforming.
Before we do anything this radical, I want to know who else has done it and how long have they been doing it. Have they seen improvements that don鈥檛 just move them up a few points on a scale but catapult the district toward success and consistently stay there? Otherwise, I鈥檓 out.
This data has to exist, since this plan is being pushed so hard. I鈥檇 love to see it on Page 1 of The Eagle.
Dave Pill, Pittsfield