(Throughout my educational experience not once did I ever come to think about how
much of a difference the size of class makes. As I sit here thinking about how much of a
difference my education would have been if the class sizes were smaller. ) I remember sitting
still watching my teacher (in class as I observed my teacher) as she pressed (against) her temples
stressed out because her class of thirty-one wasn’t listening to the instructions. “Kids if you can
just please listen to me and stop hiding so we can start class.” Mrs. Robles exclaimed. Not a day
went by where she did not mention how big this class was and how many kids were crammed
into her small classroom as she went over her material. Regardless of it being presented with
such normality we are
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After questioning teachers whom have taught within larger classroom
sizes and then from teaching bigger classes transitioning to smaller sizes, they mentioned only
great things about it all. “The findings from this research show that although class size is not the
only factor influencing teaching, teachers in large classes believe that class size is a major aspect
that impacts on the different teaching methods adopted.” (Almulla). Not every student is built the
same way, they have different cultures and support. Some may lack language skills,
communication skills or just simply learning skills. “According to Farrant’s (2000)
documentation, in a crowded class, there is (are) little participation per pupil supports the
foregoing viewpoint.” (Kewaza). Smaller classes allow for the teacher to capitalize on the
opportunities presented to them by each student and develop a variety of teaching strategies for
Many people may argue the fact that reducing classes may bring trouble to school
districts and colleges. There have been instances stating that reducing classes (class sizes)
questions in the lesson were sure to pass her by once she even got ten
For the third time today, everyone in the classroom was in a standstill. Eventually, I was greeted with eighteen pair of eyes, which appeared to say, ‘who in the hell do you think you are talking to her like that?’ heck, you would’ve thought I called the girl out of her name with the dirty stares I was receiving.
In 1986, the Tennessee legislature commissioned the Tennessee Class Size Experiment to determine if class size made a difference in achievement for disadvantaged students. After studying 79 different schools in 42 school districts for 4 years, the researchers found that class size only had an effect on students in kindergarten through 3rd grade, and that effect was minute. The impact was only on reading, not math, and smaller classes did not help disadvantaged students. A 2002 study of New York City schools showed that smaller schools, not smaller classes, had an effect on student success.
Education in America has existed as long as the nation itself. In fact, education began before Americans even landed in America—before the name “America” was commonplace, before the thirteen colonies emerged, before anyone had any thought to inscribe the words “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” English Puritans taught their children long division and cursive script while sailing across the rough waters on the Mayflower (“Colonial Education”). To distract young minds from the treacherous hurl and break of the Atlantic waves, parents encouraged the group to recite their Bible verses and name the twelve apostles (“Colonial Education”). There were only a few children aboard, about “20 adolescents, mostly boys,” but their importance superseded their numbers (“Children on the Mayflower”). The survival of the children “was of great importance to the survival of the Plymouth Colony,” so their parents invested great effort in their education. Once on land, schooling flourished from the confines of the ship to the vastness of unexplored territories and unlimited time. Eighteenth century colonial Separatists built small one-room schoolhouses devoted to religious studies, the wealthy Federalists of the nineteenth century formed English Grammar Schools to discipline future politicians, and twentieth century middle-class urban dwellers pushed for public education buildings amidst the bustle of city factories (“Early National Education”). As the people recognized a growth in population, they also recognized a growing value to schooling and learning. The nation flourished and expanded, and so did its educational system.
In the front of a fourth-grade classroom, there sits the ever-smiling face of a little girl. Each morning, this girl is the first to class, dressed neatly and appropriately, with a backpack full of supplies in order for her to be successful in the classroom. Her homework is always finished, and her parents always make sure she is doing her reading, and trying for excellent grades. The constant efforts of the child in the classroom, and her perpetual kindness to all of her peers has persuaded the teacher into being impressed with the little girl’s work this year. She decides, along with her fellow faculty, to award the child a certificate stating she is the Student of the Month. The child barely makes it through the bus ride home due to
Throughout my educational experience not once did I ever come to think about how much of a difference the size of class makes. As I sit here thinking about how much of a difference my education would have been if the class sizes were smaller. I remember sitting still in class as I observed my teacher pressing against her temples stressed out because her class of thirty-one wasn’t listening to the instructions. “Kids if you can just please listen to me and stop hiding so we can start class.” Mrs. Robles exclaimed. Not a day went by where she did not mention how big this class was and how many kids were crammed into her small classroom as she went over her material. Regardless of it being presented with such normality we are unaware of how much of a problem it has been. In fact, this has been a problem with over 40 states in America and they have all carried out a ruling that entails smaller classes for academic and disciplinary reasons. Throughout the following essay I
Due to the effects of higher enrolment, teaching methods are now directed towards suiting the masses, thus everything has become less personal, as well as, less educationally in depth. Teaching techniques consist of multiple choice tests, rather than written answer questions which require critical analysis, as Jacobs states “So many papers to mark, relative to numbers and qualities of mentors to mark them, changed the nature of test papers. Some came to consist of “True or False?” and “Which of the following is correct?” types of questions” (Jacobs 49). While teachers also no longer engage in one on one conversations with students, but merely in a lecture hall among masses and everyone is seen as just a student number. Jacobs states a complaint from a student “who claimed they were shortchanged in education. They had expected more personal rapport with teachers” (Jacobs 47). Universities are too much focused on the cost benefit analysis, of the problem of increased enrolment, with the mind set of “quantity trumps quality” (Jacobs 49). The benefit of student education and learning is not being put first, but rather the expansion of the university to benefit financial issues. Taylor states “individualism and the expansion of instrumental reason, have often been accounted for as by-products
Although I live in a small city, the class sizes at my school are large. My larger classes have made it difficult to get the individual help I want, and I know from past experiences that I function at a higher level in a smaller classroom setting. Flagler’s smaller class sizeof 17/1 is very important to me and will benefit to my success.
But the truth is that smaller classes and better teachers do improve student achievement. Members of our government claim that giving more money to schools will not make a difference, but the government funding for schools needs to be used effectively to see a change in student performance. (Connell)
Class sizes in America have been on a constant rise for years now, with little help from a budget, and almost no recovery from a slumping economy, which brings to light the age-old discussion; does class size really matter? With class sizes rising at a constant rate there is also no relief for students. There are many students who tend to struggle in certain subjects, and a smaller class could mean more individual time with a teacher and that could help improve their knowledge and comprehension of the subject. Our students are in classes day in and day out that are simply too big for even the finest teachers to handle, which impairs each individual’s learning. Therefore if teachers had fewer students this would enable them to give more individual teaching time to each student. Class size is important, and it has a large impact on our student’s education and that is why class size should be cut, specifically in Pre-K to third grade classes or classes which serve the most “at-risk” students.
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.
... Class size reduction is another area that would enable our school system to move forward. In a smaller size classroom, educational quality will be improved. Teachers have greater amount of time to build a solid ground for the students to flourish. Though changes need to take place in our current school system, I am thankful to be in a country where my children have the right to be educated.
forgotten it at home or in their locker, that meant a homework grade of zero. She was tough. She always told us, "If you do your homework, then you can ask questions. When you ask questions and participate in class, you will learn more."
The school that I visited was new. It was the first year of the school opening. The school board had combined two schools into one, so the students had to adjust to their new environments and new individuals. They seemed to be getting along well with each other. Since the school is new the teacher has to adjust to new problems that araise. Times for the subjects and times for using the computer labs change. So the teacher must always be fixable for anything. In this observation of this classroom I learned about the enjoyment of teaching. How you have to adapt to each of the students.
students to learn and teachers to teach. At first glance, it may seem problematic, but research has