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Dear Dr. Wes & Kelly: I read your article on teenagers having to go to schools without their peer group (May 26) and thought there was some great insight. We are in a situation right now where our area might be rezoned to a different middle and high school campus. We are not in favor of this for many reasons. One of them is that this rezoning would move our kids out of the community in which they “live life” to a school that isn’t in that community. Any info or support you might have for this would be appreciated.

Wes:I favor having ninth-graders in high school. Not only is this the standard across the state and around the country, but it makes the most sense developmentally. Some parents seem to fear their 14-year-olds or 15-year-olds being thrust in with upperclassman. Others see ninth-graders in some kind of leadership role in the junior highs, without which the school community would suffer. I think both of these positions are more myth than fact. Ninth-graders fit better with older teens than seventh- and eighth-graders, particularly insofar as dating and psychosexual development are concerned. I am astonished at how much our younger junior high kids in Lawrence are acquainted with the issues of older adolescence. Perhaps moving ninth-graders up a notch will delay that a bit.

Likewise, today’s sixth-graders tend to fit better within the middle school structure than grade school. Interestingly, the model that is getting the most attention right now in broader educational research is returning to the kindergarten through eighth-grade attendance center. This hearkens back to the days before junior high was even invented. The long-term research on K-8 schools suggests they have fewer disciplinary problems in upper grades, better test scores and a host of other improvements socially, psychologically and educationally. Many operate with self-contained classrooms or rotate teachers instead of students. While I think that’s probably too radical a leap for the local district to take and our buildings are not built to make it work, it underscores how antiquated the junior high model really is.

That said, I stand by the point made in our original column. Regardless of the ninth-grade issue, the district undoubtedly needs to make periodic boundary changes as populations shift and some buildings become overburdened or underutilized. However, any change that might move kids on a different path of matriculation should take into account their original path. If neighborhoods are moved from Lawrence High School to Free State High School or vice versa, students from about fourth grade up should be allowed to grandfather into their original middle and high school. Unless this is the mother of all rezonings, I doubt that will involve more than a handful of kids. For families like yours who may be caught up in those changes, it will make a big difference, and I would urge you to make that view known.

If on the other hand the issue is not original matriculation — you’re concerned that somehow you’re living in an LHS neighborhood culture and even over the next 20 years that can never change — I think you’ll have to rethink your views a bit. Change is often hard. Your job is to help kids accept a reasonable approach to change. The district’s obligation is to make that change as easy and unobtrusive for kids as possible.

Kelly: Personally, I see no real problems with our school system as it is. I’ve been able to experience the junior high and high school spectrum and survived just fine. I see no reason to start relocating our children. I would first seek other means of funding before going this route. However, if worst comes to worst, we must be understanding of critical changes.

Although we wish to protect our children from any uprooting within our school systems, the ongoing economic troubles don’t seem to favor Lawrence’s tradition, forcing many of us come to terms with reality. We understand that as the economy leaves us with many problems, we learn we must quickly find solutions. Whether it’s unpredictable gas prices or small businesses closing Lawrence is just one of many towns in the United States making modifications to help stabilize its economy.

One of these includes the rezoning idea proposed by the school district. I am sure there are many parents who agree this plan, while others tend to be a little more skeptical. We may find ourselves asking how long the transition is going to take, whether teachers, activities or classes must be cut, and where additional funding will come from. You may worry about how your children will adjust to being rezoned.

Sometimes it’s difficult to adapt to new environments, especially when the environment creates a entirely different atmosphere. Yet one important lesson in life is how to cope with change and transformation. Yes, the rezoning may seem as inconvenient to many of us, but it won‘t be the end of the world. Children will be put into a different melting pot, but they also may be able to experience their education in a whole new light. Each of our Lawrence schools have capable and exceptional teachers from which your children will receive a vigorous education, no matter which school they attend.

— Dr. Wes Crenshaw is a board-certified family psychologist and director of the Family Therapy Institute Midwest. Kelly Kelin is a recent graduate of Free State High School. Opinions and advice given here are not meant as a substitute for psychological evaluation or therapy services. Send your questions about adolescent issues (limited to 200 words) to doubletake@ljworld.com. All correspondence is strictly confidential.

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