Chapter 6: John H. Lounsbury: The Man With a Magnificent Obsession

When I first met John Lounsbury, I was a young, zealous middle school teacher in a progressive, recently opened middle school. It was an extraordinary middle school that changed lives, mine included (Doda, 2002). Every aspect of school life was grounded in an understanding of young adolescent development and organized to support healthy, inclusive relationships, democratic decision-making processes, and a curriculum focused on inquiry and exploration. To strengthen the relationship needs of young adolescents, the school organized students and teachers in multiage interdisciplinary teams with a daily advisory program. To create an inviting and meaningful curriculum critical for engaging the age group, the school placed a heavy emphasis on exploration and inquiry across the curriculum. Finally, in this racially and economically diverse school, the staff intentionally addressed social skills and celebrated and embraced diversity.