Adolescent Lives in Transition: How Social Class Influences the Adjustment to Middle School

345 Pages·2004·1.26 MB·English

by  Donna Marie San Antonio

Adolescent
Lives
in Transition
How Social Class Influences the
Adjustment to Middle School
DONNA MARIE SAN ANTONIO
Adolescent Lives in Transition
Adolescent Lives in Transition
How Social Class
Influences the Adjustment
to Middle School
Donna Marie San Antonio
State University of New York Press
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 2004 State University of New York
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval
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For information, address State University of New York Press,
90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, N.Y., 12207
Production by Diane Ganeles
Marketing by Susan Petrie
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
San Antonio, Donna Marie, 1951–
Adolescent lives in transition: how social class influences the adjustment
to middle school / Donna Marie San Antonio.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7914-6035-5 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-6036-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Middle schools—United States—Sociological aspects—Case studies.
2. Middle school students—United States—Social conditions—21st century—
Case studies I. Title.
LB1623.5.S26 2004
373.236'0973—dc21
2003050532
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For my father, Ugo,
who encouraged a passionate response to life and
awareness of injustice.
And for my mother, Caterina,
who taught me to live with imagination and
persistent optimism.
Your love and example have helped guide the way through
life’s extraordinary transitions.
Contents
List of Illustrations ix
List of Tables xi
Acknowledgments xiii
List of People xvii
Introduction: Social Class and Adjustment to School in Rural Places 1
Chapter 1. A Methodology for Research with Young Students 17
Part I—The Towns
Introduction 49
Chapter 2. Hillside—On the Way to Somewhere Else 53
Chapter 3. Lakeview–Journey’s End 71
Conclusion 87
Part II—The School and its Teachers and Students
Introduction 95
Chapter 4. Mountainview Middle School 113
Chapter 5. Sixth Grade Hopes, Seventh Grade Discoveries 123
Chapter 6. A Transition for Parents and Teachers 135
Chapter 7. Classrooms, Teams, and Teaching Styles 143
Chapter 8. How Students Shape Less-Structured Environments 159
Conclusion 173
vii
viii Contents
Part III—The Emotional, Participatory, and Academic Realms
of Students’ Lives
Introduction 179
Chapter 9. Peer, Home, and School Self-Esteem 181
Chapter 10. Extracurricular Participation 203
Chapter 11. Ability Grouping 225
Chapter 12. Success and Struggle in the Transition to Middle School 249
Chapter 13. Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice 261
Appendix 1. Comparisons of Educational and Economic Factors 269
Appendix 2. Rubric for Defining Socioeconomic Status Categories 271
Appendix 3. Recommendations of the Carnegie Council on
Adolescent Development 273
Appendix 4. Sample Student Questionnaire 275
Appendix 5. Table of Self-Esteem Means 283
Appendix 6. Student Participation Survey 287
Appendix 7. Town and Gender Comparisons of California
Achievement Test Scores 289
Notes 293
References 299
Index 313
Illustrations
Figures
1.1. Number of Lakeview and Hillside Students in Low,
Middle, and High Social Class Categories 29
1.2. Calculated and Perceived Social Class by Town 30
9.1. General Self-Esteem for Lakeview and Hillside Groups 190
9.2. Peer, Home, and School Self-Esteem by Town 192
9.3. General Self-Esteem by Town and Gender 194
9.4. Boys’ General Self-Esteem by Town and
Divorce Experience 196
10.1. Boys’ and Girls’ Participation in After-School
Activities by Town 212
Maps
1. Mountainview Regional School District 48
2. Center Hillside 52
3. Downtown Lakeview 70
ix