Introduction

These are heady times in education, particularly in the area of middle-level education. Indeed, there is possibly more innovation taking place in the area of middle-level education than at any other level. Teachers, administrators, and many others are developing and implementing a vast array of new curricular and extracurricular projects and programs whose specific purpose is to make learning exciting and relevant to the lives of young adolescents (10-to 15-year-olds). Among the more notable of these are two that comprise the focus of this book: the study of social issues within the middle school curriculum and student involvement in service (e.g., service learning, community service, or a hybrid of the two). Not only is the learning going on exciting but it is also imbued with a sense of social and personal relevance for the student—both of which are key tenets of middle-level education.