The trend today in education is for smaller class size. There are some data that suggests there is a more positive effect for smaller class sizes for lower grades but that achievement decreases as grade levels increase. However, a study done at the University of Missouri showed that an increase in class size and student/teacher ratio showed an increase in sixth grade achievement and smaller class sizes did not lead to higher test scores.
Economist Eric Hanuskek, of the University of Rochester concludes in his recent research, “there is little systematic gain from general reduction in class size.”
The hard realities of financing our schools require staffing decisions based on research about how best to improve student learning. For example, to improve education quality today, many people, including the President, are advocating for smaller classes and the hiring of 100,000 more teachers. In fact, Congress approved this a few weeks ago. The research cited above shows that it’s doubtful that will be a wise investment of Federal funds. A worthier objective would have been to fund scholarships for low-income students to attend the school of their choice. Or, the money could have been used for college tuition grants for our nation’s teachers to increase their competence in their teaching subject. As the Department of Education reports, 36 percent of public-school teachers of academic subjects neither majored nor minored in their main teaching field.Class size has been shrinking for decades. The national average is now 22 students per classroom, down from more than 30 in the 1950’s, at an immense cost, but with no comparable gains in achievement.
In fact, the Asian countries that trounce the US on international education assessments have vastly larger classes, often 40 or 50 students per teachers
Martin Gross wrote a very interesting book titled The Conspiracy of Ignorance in which he provides reasons why our public schools are faring poorly academically. He recommends that the public must become more knowledgeable about schooling, much as they are about business or home buying.
Some of Gross’s suggestions for improving education are vouchers for all children in failing schools, raise standards for licensing of teachers, and strengthen the K-12 curriculum. I think the latter is critical, particularly when he proposes we teach history and geography separately and earlier and four years of English, history, science and mathematics be required for graduation from high school. He also recommends physics, trigonometry and intermediate algebra should be required in all secondary schools, along with philosophy and economics.
Mr. Gross approves increasing the number of alternate-certified teachers who hold college degrees in subjects other than education because they are better-prepared and maturer teachers for our children. A case in point is the retired Colonel who volunteered to teach a course on “Conflicts in the Twentieth Century” at the Williamstown High School. It was based on his career experience in the Air Force and as United Nations war crime investigator in Bosnia. The students were excited about the course but the NEA vehemently opposed his efforts and filed a grievance. Mr. Gross insists the public must challenge our education system and if “radical changes are not made and rapidly, public education may be entering its last days as the bulwark of democracy.”
I had an opportunity to meet and listen to some foreign exchange students sponsored by the Rotary. These students live with local families and attend our schools. Periodically during the year, they attend Rotary meetings to share their experiences and talk about cultural differences.
What I find most interesting is when students compare our school systems with theirs. The general consensus is our schools are easy, not as demanding and not focused on rigorous academics. A student from France indicated she starts school at 8 AM and concludes at 5-6PM each evening with hours of homework expected for the next day. The structure is more regimented and there’s no time for school activities and sports other than through private clubs. Parents of Japanese students have shared similar experiences with me as well.
Since we’re being measured to global standards, our educational goals should be evaluated so that our students will not be at a disadvantage. The stakes today are our children’s future and nothing should be more worthy of the effort.