Comments on: Middle School Muddle: So, what about the academics? http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:05:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: inthemiddle http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/#comment-93 inthemiddle Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:07:00 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/#comment-93 Thanks Roberta. However they did it, and continue to do it, MAT has put together a really impressive phys ed program. I do wish I could see this at all middle schools. Because MAT was our first tour, and because the academic program seems so strong as well, we'll be hard pressed to find its equal! One positive note -- the principal at Clinton is committed to starting a soccer team. Thanks Roberta. However they did it, and continue to do it, MAT has put together a really impressive phys ed program. I do wish I could see this at all middle schools. Because MAT was our first tour, and because the academic program seems so strong as well, we’ll be hard pressed to find its equal! One positive note — the principal at Clinton is committed to starting a soccer team.

]]> By: Roberta http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/#comment-90 Roberta Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:53:00 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/#comment-90 katsmom7,<br/><br/>I think that MAT has all these physical education programs for three reasons:<br/><br/>1. Because of its location, it has access to playing fields outside, plus the Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center directly behind the school. (Of course not every District 2 parent wants their kid to go to a school nestled in among the Lower East Side projects, tucked away between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge overpasses, but there it is.<br/><br/>2. Because Kerry Decker, the principal, is willing to spend money on afterschool gym programs.<br/><br/>3. Because John DeMatteo, the middle school gym teacher, is willing to spend an awful lot of time coaching.<br/><br/>So talk to the principals of the other schools.<br/><br/>Roberta<br/>mom to a MAT 6th grader katsmom7,

I think that MAT has all these physical education programs for three reasons:

1. Because of its location, it has access to playing fields outside, plus the Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center directly behind the school. (Of course not every District 2 parent wants their kid to go to a school nestled in among the Lower East Side projects, tucked away between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge overpasses, but there it is.

2. Because Kerry Decker, the principal, is willing to spend money on afterschool gym programs.

3. Because John DeMatteo, the middle school gym teacher, is willing to spend an awful lot of time coaching.

So talk to the principals of the other schools.

Roberta
mom to a MAT 6th grader

]]> By: katsmom7 http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/#comment-63 katsmom7 Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:31:00 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2007/10/31/middle-school-muddle-so-what-about-the-academics/#comment-63 Liz, I'm so happy to learn more about your touring experience with your 5th grade child. I went through it myself two years ago, although we did not tour MAT, it seems as though I may have been missing out. As a parent of a middle school student myself (prefer that myself and the school remains anonymous) I'm curious as to how MAT, being that it is such a small school, is able to offer so much in terms of afterschool athletics to it's students? Our middle school is in district 2 but it doesn't offer much in terms of physical education or afterschool sports, although the parents here dearly wish that could change. A big part of my middle school experience was being able to participate in a wide variety of sports, although I did go to middle school in the Midwest. Do you have any information on how MAT created their program and exactly what steps were taken to maintain it? Is there a way I could receive more information from the physical education teacher or principal at MAT and see if we could implement the program there in our school (or at least SOME of it). I would love to hear more about what is going on there and relay that information to OUR principal and physical education teacher. It just doesn't seem fair that the children of MAT are able to have the opportunity to play on so many interscholastic teams while the rest of the schools that are located in the very same district have virtually nothing. Liz, I’m so happy to learn more about your touring experience with your 5th grade child. I went through it myself two years ago, although we did not tour MAT, it seems as though I may have been missing out. As a parent of a middle school student myself (prefer that myself and the school remains anonymous) I’m curious as to how MAT, being that it is such a small school, is able to offer so much in terms of afterschool athletics to it’s students? Our middle school is in district 2 but it doesn’t offer much in terms of physical education or afterschool sports, although the parents here dearly wish that could change. A big part of my middle school experience was being able to participate in a wide variety of sports, although I did go to middle school in the Midwest. Do you have any information on how MAT created their program and exactly what steps were taken to maintain it? Is there a way I could receive more information from the physical education teacher or principal at MAT and see if we could implement the program there in our school (or at least SOME of it). I would love to hear more about what is going on there and relay that information to OUR principal and physical education teacher. It just doesn’t seem fair that the children of MAT are able to have the opportunity to play on so many interscholastic teams while the rest of the schools that are located in the very same district have virtually nothing.

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