Middle schoolers, for whom some mischief can be second nature, are positioned perfectly for activism. They’re attuned to inequity and injustice, and are developmentally ready - even eager - to go against the grain. Fifth and sixth graders will, predictably, labor over creating teams that are fair, and make a stir if they aren’t. Seventh and eighth graders will complain bitterly over perceived infringements on their own rights - their independence, their privacy, their right to chew gum, or look at their phone. Springtime is the season when we watch the middle schoolers unfurl, stretch, and test boundaries. Citizenship at LREI means being willing question authority, while also honoring a commitment to the community and fellow classmates. We celebrate independence, even resistance, but insist on adherence to norms. What makes mischief the honorable kind? Selflessness. The middle school is full of structures to encourage students to work on each others’ behalf. The student reps write letters and convene meetings to talk about anything from recess equipment to the schedule. The environmental club came to my office last week to propose a less wasteful alternative to disposable cups in the cafeteria. While we often hear “This ain’t right” from a middle schooler as just a personal complaint, it also has the seeds of civic engagement. One of the many pleasures of working iwth this age is finding ways to accept that challenge and help them shape it - through the skills of arguement, debate and organizing - into something larger than themselves. Ana Fox Chaney Middle School Principal |