A recent newspaper editorial stated the impact small class sizes has on learning may be a myth.
I could not disagree more. It states class size has no consistent effect on student outcome. This may be so, but the larger class size, especially in the lower grades, I would challenge the researchers to prove there was no difference in student achievement.
Quoting the editorial it stated in 2005, Jay P. Green and Marcus Winterts, researchers at the Manhattan Institute report Princeton economist Alan Krueger found reducing class size led to greater student achievement, but adoption of similar policies on a larger scale produced no benefits.
I am guessing they are inferring that by having larger class sizes, we could eliminate a large number of teachers, thereby cutting the overall cost of public education. If so, this suggests seriously flawed thinking on their part. To my knowledge, large class-sized, “mass-production” educational institutions are systems processors where a great number of young people slip through the cracks, falling into lives with limited opportunities for meaningful careers. More often than not, many descend into lifestyles that require society’s other institutions of social assistance and law enforcement to respond to their to their needs. I would say going cheap now only costs our society a lot more later on.
Over the past few years, I have had conversations with many educators from a variety of schools, and found the general opinion is smaller class sizes are not just important but very important. In smaller class sized school rooms, the teacher has time to bond with his or her students. The astute teacher can watch and observe the pupil and determine their individual strengths and weaknesses.
They have an opportunity to build a relationship with their pupils and learn to recognize the pressures the students today are living with both at home as well at school.
Often when an educator is able to understand what psychological and emotional stresses a student may be shouldering, they can counsel that child, helping them with their problems. In doing so, they enable them to continue with and enjoy school, to learn more easily, keep up with their classmates, and be successful in a crucial aspect of life in our contemporary, technological society.
Building trust in a relationship between at teacher and their students on a one-on- one basis or as close as possible, makes the student more adaptable to their environment and more desirous of knowledge.
Doing so can make an otherwise unenthusiastic, meek and unsure pupil more confident within the classroom atmosphere and thus a more willing participant in the pursuit or their education, rather than a disinterested, unconnected observer.
An educator today has to be more than just a teacher. To be successful in their career they have to be a counsellor and a psychologist amongst others.
By the same token, in smaller class sizes, a sharp teacher will recognize a gifted student and encourage him or her to aspire to higher challenges and independently pursue further objectives, and ideally on to higher learning.
Conversely, in larger class sizes, the educator is unable to assess student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, ascertain their educational interests and career goals, and to judge their attitudes towards their future prospects for life.
Thus they are handicapped in their capacity to dedicate time and attention to helping the student. In lower grades, I feel class sizes of lower than 20 to 25 are the ultimate for a good teacher/student ratio.
I would be skeptical of blindly accepting generalized educational research anywhere as uncontestable gospel. In fact, as in all professions, one should always read more than one research conclusion on any topic, and especially regarding K-12 education. I would advocate our education system is generally on par with, and in many ways, superior to other educational systems throughout the world.
However, I would also say just speaking as a resident of Alberta, it is incumbent upon Alberta Education and the Alberta Teacher’s Association and all of its members, they must continually strive to improve the program.
If one is inspired to have a desire to learn at a young age, that person will live a life of higher meaning and greater fulfilment. Our society’s institutions should always encourage our citizenry to continue learning, all the day throughout life.
We should be ever aware the future of our great country depends upon our youth when they mature and progress through their education.
Always be cognizant of how extremely important teachers and students are. Smaller class sizes will definitely increase the depth of enrichment for all of mankind.
