School from the Young Adolescent's Perspective: A Descriptive Report

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Abstract
Despite efforts over the past few decades to provide a better educational environment for young adolescents, little is empirically known regarding the students' perceptions of school. The present study was undertaken to directly tap young adolescents' views about school as they progressed from elementary to junior high school. As part of a larger research project, 335 sixth grade students (153 boys and 182 girls) were randomly selected from two successive cohorts and followed longitudinally through the eighth grade. Structured interview data pertaining to the students' views and attitudes about various aspects of school, as well as school reported grades, were collected each year. Several important findings emerged in the areas of: (1) academic concerns and preferences, (2) grades, (3) extra curricular activities, (4) the relative importance of athletics, popularity, and academics, (5) views about the transition into junior high, and (6) trouble-causing activities. Among the most striking findings were: (1) grades declined significantly over the years, (2) academics were generally more important than athletics or popularity (especially for boys), (3) there were few significant sex differences in regard to athletics, and (4) the transition to junior high school went better junior high deserves more empirical and critical attention.