reducing class size

To the Edison Board of Education:

Ever since the establishment of the No Child Left Behind Act, schools around the nation have received more and more students. Edison is no different, with a staggering 14,476 students enrolled this past year. Instead of reforming the education system to fit the growing number of students, we place new students in large, existing classes. There does not seem to be a problem if the class has yet to reach its maximum capacity, and people often disregard the importance of class size. However, reducing class sizes can positively impact students' performances academically, emotionally, and socially. It may seem difficult to stray from the orthodox method, but the efforts of reform are extremely fruitful. Even if we pass on other changes, this should be done as soon as possible. We need to realize that for pupils, educators, and the Board of Education, class size matters.

Students are in school to learn. To learn, we need willingness, interest, and excitement from both pupil and teacher. With fewer students in a class, education can become a whole lot more personal—which is good. Rebecca Meleski, a student at Cardinal Stritch University, states that she loves the small classes because it's "More engaging. Everyone can have a closer relationship with the teacher. We can get our questions answered and have the time to discuss more complicated topics". When there are fifteen or so people in a class, teachers have ample time to answer questions and give help.

For most schools, learning is a different story. With the average class of twenty-five students, it takes a few weeks for teachers to learn everyone's name. What does that mean for the shy kids sitting in the back? They might get called on less, ove...

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...try. John P. Stevens ranked thirty second in the state; that’s quite an amazing title we should all be proud of. Simply minimizing classes, even a little, will help us succeed even farther. Just because we’ve made it this far up the mountain, doesn’t mean we can stop climbing. There’s always room for improvement. In fact, to me, that’s what Edison’s schools are about: striving for a higher education and finding innovative ways to learn. Yet at the same time, the Edison schools can be so much more than that. The schools are a community in which we strive to do what’s best for each other and ourselves. Creating smaller classes will strengthen this support system, and allow for each one of us to grow into scholars. Just like Edison, small classes strive to shape students who are willing and excited to learn: the foundations for success.

Yours sincerely,

Shanshan Chan