Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1980

Thesis Director

Gerhard C. Matzner

Abstract

The development of a student handbook for the Middle School students of the Argenta-Oreana School District was the object of this particular field study. The handbook previously used by the students was merely an overview of the rules and regulations and was definitely lacking in detail and explanation. Our high school has a student handbook, but the distinct differences between the operation of the high school and the middle school would not permit the use of the same handbook for both buildings. It was through experiences of my four years of employment as middle school principal, directives from the board of education, conferences with other principals, and requests from faculty members, that the eventual handbook was developed.

The creation of this handbook was brought about mainly through the desire of the school personnel to have a more detailed explanation of how the middle school functions. My main task was to create a handbook that would be easy to read and follow and also sufficiently describe the functions of the middle school. In addition to these activities, the purpose of this handbook was to make the transition from elementary school to middle school smooth and orderly. Likewise, I wanted to have a handbook that would answer most of the questions that parents and students generally ask about our school and its operation.

Also, we have many students who move into our district from neighboring communities. Many times our methods of operating a school are different from the manner in which the new students are familiar. Hopefully, this new handbook will allow these new students to understand immediately the way our middle school will operate and what type of behavior we expect them to demonstrate.

Keeping these new factors in mind, I developed a handbook which describes the procedures used for the proper operation of the middle school and the responsibilities necessary for the students to be successful in our school. The major recommendation I would have is that the handbook be reviewed yearly and updated where necessary. Hopefully, a constant review of the handbook will help maintain an updated and useful instrument for both students and parents.

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