The participants in this study openly discussed various areas such as the friendliness of their teachers, the meanness and bad tempers of their teachers, school violence and devil worshiping, the condition of the physical facilities, and other various negative and positive aspects of their respective schools. Fifteen percent of the participants stated that sports was what they liked best at their school. Eleven percent of the respondents indicated concern about the violence in their schools. Sixteen percent of the students indicated that their teachers cared and were eager to help. The students in this study were also asked about their favorite and least favorite classes.
Young adolescents are social beings and school is the center of a middle schoolers' social life.
A very interesting observation derived from this study is the emphasis that the students place on teachers. Teachers either made a class likeable or dislikeable. We must also look at some of the statements that students made about their teachers. One of the philosophies of an effective middle school is that it should be guidance oriented. The student to counselor ratio leaves much to be desired in many middle schools, thus, even more of a reason for teachers to have an open ear and heart.