An Open Letter to Middle Level Educators--A Parent's Concern.

As we settle in for the drive home, pre dictably I make some inquiry about the school day, "Hey, how'd it go?" Often, with some non-verbal excitement, he reports about a fun and typically challenging experi ence; the stage is set for a warmer, lighter evening with family. Too frequently, the day's assessment is discouraging with noth ing easily recalled as having some quality of enjoyment or meaningfulness; the evening on the home front can be colored "blue."