Orange Middle School

The plan implemented by Orange Middle school has a lot of positive elements. The division into "houses" should promote a sense of belonging for the students. They will be closely monitored by a small group of teachers and should not easily fall through the cracks. I also thought the dress code was a good idea but not for the reasons given in the article. In urban areas, gang violence is a very prominent issue (even in middle schools). By forcing the students to wear uniforms, they will no longer be able to wear their colors and represent rival gangs. This step may go a long way in decreasing violence throughout the halls of the school.

My first suggestion for improvement to the plan is to include some sort of extra curricular activities. In order to truly build the sense of community that the school is aiming for, students must see each other outside of the classroom. By working/playing together, the students will view each other in a different light and should become closer. Another key factor in building this sense of community lies with the parents. The school must get parents involved whether it be through the creation of a PTSO or some other outreach program. Without parental support, any progress made within the school day can be easily forgotten when the students go home.