Psychiatrist Concerned for 5th Graders if Referendum Passes

The following letter was written and submitted by Brad Greenspan, MD.

As the District 112 referendum nears a vote, I want to reflect on issues that have shaped my decision. I understand that there are those who have put extraordinary time in developing the plan and have an unwavering belief in it. I admire their passion and determination. However, as a psychiatrist who’s lived in this community for many years, was the medical director of Psychiatric services at Highland Park Hospital for eleven years and had/have children in the district, I believe the plan is seriously flawed.

I urge District 112 voters to review the research on transitioning 5th graders into Middle School. One article, in particular, that references a Harvard University study (part of the Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series) describes the negative impact on “math and language arts achievement” as the direct result of an early transition. The link for the Education Week Spotlight article is: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/11/28/13structure.h31.html
The vast majority of research on the topic strongly supports keeping 5th graders in elementary school for the educational as well as emotional benefits. That District 112 would physically separate 5th graders from older students in a single, large middle school doesn’t address the inherent problems. Additionally, parents commenting on the maturity of their children or indicating that their 4th graders want to attend middle school next year simply aren’t, in my opinion, contributing to the discussion. Solid research should be given greater consideration.

Unfortunately, verbal assaults have entered the discourse as well as the idea that a “world class education” cannot be generated without this plan. And, most inappropriate, is the notion that if we truly love our children we have no alternative but to vote in favor of the referendum. These statements are judgmental, off-putting and, I believe, wrong.

Honestly, most parents in this community would throw themselves in front of a bus to protect their children, go into debt to educate them and, yet, may not agree with this plan, the process that achieved it, the cost to promote it or the end result. I, for one do not. I hope the referendum will fail, but I also hope a new group of visionaries will create a plan that most of us can enthusiastically endorse. I hope that plan will include two 6th through 8th middle schools with an emphasis on the neighborhood school model. That model is clearly advantageous to children and their parents on multiple levels that the referendum plan ignores.