Claim

Reality

NMSA is a radical, social activist organization that is bent on changing schools in ways that the public doesn’t want to see schools go.

"This documentary evidence will make the case that radical middle school activists view the public schools as their personal vehicles for engineering an egalitarian society, in complete disregard of American values and in spite of what the American public desires" (p. 13).

"I came to see how radical middle school activists were driving many of the policies and practices that have been so damaging to the public school system in America at all grade levels …" (p. xvi).

NMSA is dedicated exclusively to the education, development, and growth of young adolescents. Its mission statement sets forth its sole agenda: "National Middle School Association is dedicated to improving the educational experiences of young adolescents by providing vision, knowledge, and resources to all who serve them in order to develop healthy, productive, and ethical citizens."

The middle school concept rests on four foundational stones: (1) the nature of human growth and development, (2) the best knowledge about the learning process, (3) the commitment to the academic growth and well-being of every child, and (4) the nature and needs of our democratic society. All educational practices advocated are reflections of one or more of these underlying supports.

Furthermore, research makes it clear that when schools fully implement the middle school concept, students make measurable gains in academic achievement.

While NMSA's leaders are active in efforts to carry out the association’s mission, labeling them as social activists is simply inaccurate. In fact, NMSA is quite apolitical.