Classroom sizes in public schools
often determine the quality and amount of learning and how engaged a child will
be in a learning environment. Children
to teacher ratio, especially in K-3, are extremely important because key
factors and knowledge is acquired during these years which will contribute to
the rest of their schooling experience.
If a child spends his or her first few years of school in an overcrowded
classroom they would not receive the amount of attention needed to ensure they are
receiving the foundation of information that they will need for the rest of
their educational career. Multiple studies
have been performed with one exclusively by the Tennessee Star to demonstrate
that classes containing 15-17 students have shown short and long term benefits
to the students. The studies all point to
the direction that in large classroom sizes students are affected negatively because
teachers are unable to address each student’s specific needs.
Classroom sizes increase when
public schools are faced with budget cuts.
This occurs even with decades of support by parents and administrators
to shrink classroom size. Some
classrooms are literally busting at the seams and teachers are unable to
successfully teach all the children. There
are also several other factors that contribute to the successfulness of a
school including the quality of the teaching, school overall size, school
leadership, the amount of effort put in by a student, and amount of parent
involvement, etc. Small classroom size however,
can always enhance and create a better learning environment for each student.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American
Federation of Teachers conducted a survey about what parents of children in
public schools view as the most important aspect of school. It showed that second to school safety,
parent’s desire small classroom sizes.
Another aspect of public schooling to address is the classroom size from
a teacher’s point of view. Besides the
fact that teachers are unable to connect and address each student’s needs,
teachers can be easily overwhelmed with large classroom sizes. With additional students, teachers gain more
papers to grade, work to make up if they are absent, emails and questions to
answer, and more parents to contact.
From the point of view of a student, parent, or teacher, small class
sizes can always improve a school and foster higher achievement.
I completely agree with your reasoning about how class sizes in the United States are too large and can definitely effect a student's ability to learn. Your evidence also helps your case very much and I am not surprised by the statistics considering this has been an issue for several decades now. May I expand on the idea of one of the reasons that class sizes are too large: budget cuts. Perhaps, for example, instead of increasing class size we could decrease spending of class materials and take care of them in order for them to be reused the next year. This post also reminded me of how teachers do not receive enough pay for what they do. This may seem a bit unrelated, but they are the ones who have to deal with everything the school board agrees on, whether it be good or bad. They teach in all circumstances and are willing to make exceptional sacrifices for their students.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with what you have to say about classroom sizes! Being a student, I know first hand how frustrating it can be when your class is so big that your teacher doesn't have enough time to help you. The statistics that you used were insightful, and eye-opening for people who are not involved in the education system. I would add to your argument by comparing the normally large, failing inner-city schools to the smaller suburban schools which are often more successful and have a much higher graduation rate. This post could also relate to the amount of homework students are assigned, which is clearly related to the class size. The smaller the class the more time a teacher has to spend with each individual student and therefor excessive homework is not necessary. I think your post was really great!
ReplyDelete