From small school to large school : students' perceptions of their experience

Vincent, Chris (Christopher John) (1994) From small school to large school : students' perceptions of their experience. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This thesis is a qualitative study of the transition of students from a small school to a large school. Interviews were done with ten graduating students who had attended a small school for their kindergarten to grade nine years. They were then bused to a large high school for their high school education. This study explores the nature of that transition from their point of view. -- The students related memories of a close, friendly atmosphere where they received a lot of individual attention in the small school. They contrasted that with a more formal atmosphere and lack of individual attention in the large school. Students related problems of adjusting academically and socially in the large school. They stated that they felt some discrimination against them in the large school, found the bus trip difficult, and had great difficulty with getting involved in extra-curricular activities. -- The students felt that they had been as well prepared for high school as their classmates from the large school, and stated that they had done well in high school. All students felt that they would have gotten better academic grades in the small school, if they could have done high school there, but would have had a more restricted list of course offerings to choose from. However, nine of the ten stated that in retrospect they would choose to go to the large school again, because they felt that due to the diversity of its academic and social offerings it prepared them better for post-secondary education.

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