Frank M. Witowski Jr.
"Frankly Speaking"

Published Dec. 28, 2005

Could a middle school could solve overcrowding in our schools?

Could a junior high school or a middle school solve overcrowding issues for the elementary schools in our county?

At the Dec. 1 school board meeting, Michael Patterson, a 2005 graduate of CCHS, approached the school board about considering a middle school for Cumberland County. Patterson felt students would win more high school sports because they would have made friends with teammates while attending sixth, seventh and eighth grade together. Patterson said when he played sports at Homestead, his team won many championships, but when he entered high school, his team had zero wins. He also felt it would improve academics for students.

I believe there are serious overcrowding issues at several of the county's elementary schools. In my opinion, by moving sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students or just seventh- and eighth-graders together into one or two schools, overcrowding issues would be resolved long-term. I also believed there was the option of utilizing one of the high schools for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders. The other high school could hold tenth-, eleventh- and twelfth-graders.

While this may seem to be the answer to the school systems' overcrowding dilemma, there are other facts to consider.

After speaking with Director of Schools Patricia Ragsdale recently about this option, I have second thoughts.

Ragsdale said one of the biggest deterrents to middle school configuration is school safety issues where insecure adolescents are in a new environment. She feels keeping adolescents in the same school provides a more secure and safe environment. Ragsdale said many school systems with middle schools are being urged to do away with the middle school concept.

I will admit my worst years in school were my junior high years by far. I cannot begin to tell you all the struggles I went through during these two years that were a nightmare to me. My freshman year in high school was much better than my two years in junior high.

While adding a middle school might be able to solve overcrowding issues, it could add to problems in other areas and that is important to consider in the full spectrum of things.

So back to the drawing board...

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Frank M. Witowski Jr. is a Crossville Chronicle staffwriter. His column appears periodically. He may be reached at 484-5145.