Annotation: Optimal Class Size In The Industrial Era

The current average class size in PCEP is about 27-30 students. A class of this size can penalize the academic experience in many ways; teachers are often overworked, students receive less attention from the teacher, and more disruptions occur. A reduction in class size would solve these problems as well as lead to many other benefits. A study in Tennessee, which involved more than 1,200 teachers and almost 12,000 students, randomly assigned teachers and students to classes of differing sizes. The study found that the class sizes of 15 or fewer produced a quieter and better learning environment. The students in these classes performed at a higher success rate than the ones in larger class sizes. This is due to the benefits of a smaller class size. The first benefit is a smaller workload for teachers, which could possibly encourage the teacher to put in more effort and spend more time teaching. The next benefit would be teachers being able to tailor instruction more individually. It is often said that teachers have to teach to the lower middle of the class. Anyone below that level has to fend for themselves, often being left behind, and anyone above it spends most of the class period daydreaming while they wait for everyone else to finish learning a concept they figured out ten minutes into the lesson. All of these benefits contribute to the success of students.This encases the importance of smaller

Overcrowded schools are one of the many reasons why America is falling backwards. With high birth rates and continuous immigration flow the classroom has become overcrowded. The best way a student can learn is if the attention is not so divided. With large classrooms having over 30 students, it makes it almost impossible for a teacher to attend to each student equally. “Slavin (1989) reviewed those studies that lasted a minimum of 1 year and had 20 students or fewer. He concluded that substantial reductions in class size have a small positive effect on students” (Synopsis of Class Size Literature). Classrooms should be small enough for a teacher to perform well without divided attention. In smaller classrooms, students are recognized for their contribution and participation. Students can respect the work of their peers individually and learn from them and help maintain order. They have more time to be collaborative, work creatively, think critically and draw their own predictions. In “Every Classroom Teacher’s Dream”, Patricia Handley states that “Teachers have more opportunity for personalized assessment with students, such as individual conferencing. With a small class, teacher can maximize best teaching practices, heightening students’ academic achievement” (6). There is ample evidence on how a small classroom can improve so much.

In recent years, the topic of class size reduction has come to light in the United States. "There is little doubt that reducing class size can boost student achievement in some circumstances," Matthew Chingos of the Brookings Institution Brown Center says. Class size reduction is becoming more and more demanded to help meet the needs of todays society and education. According to the Center For Public Education, 'student achievement in grades K-3 increased when the class size dropped'. Class size reduction has been debated about for years in the US and is now being extensively studied. Class size reduction continues to have positive affects on school districts and is now more commonly practiced in the United States because of the high

Although there are advantages and disadvantages in class size reduction to student achievement, there can be a compromise. Smaller class sizes do not have to be for everyone. It can be left to lower achieving schools. Beginning teachers can start in smaller classes, and leave the larger classes for the more experienced. Larger class schools can provide one on one or small group tutoring for those who need extra help. In kindergarten and first grade establish smaller classes but gradually grow. There is a solution to every problem, but it takes effort to find the most effective

At overcrowded schools, material issues resulting from greater class sizes directly impact the classroom. Quantified into state spending per student, resources grow increasingly strained with each additional student. A 10-minute online activity becomes a 20-minute activity in a class where there are not enough Chromebooks, requiring students

Many public school classrooms are crammed full of students, which makes not only the teacher’s job more challenging, but also damages the children’s learning experience. This is because “the smaller the class, the better individual student experience” (Lynch). In fact, a study was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) discovered that over 14% of US schools surpass their recommended capacity (Lynch). In classrooms where this is apparent, teacher-student one on one time is rarely ever possible, and a child’s understanding is limited as a result. There is no bond between the two, which also creates tension in class. The tension between a frustrated teacher and a student who does not understand a unit during the school year happens much more than expected. Also with a full class, teachers do not have the time to devote their attention to each and every student. At this day in age, children need more attention given to them than ever before in order to succeed in life, and college if they so choose to attend. It is also needed to succeed later on in life after their schooling is complete. The overpopulated classrooms are making it harder for teachers to achieve

For the students who need more academic support/assistance, The median class size is about 24 students, The classes have 50 or less students, which leaves many opportunities for students and professors to have one on one time. (“Key Stats”).

First of all, the teachers will have more room to interact, when we get up and move we both get more out of the lessons. Second, many students cheat on standardized tests. If the room is bigger teachers, will be able to spread out students so they will not be able to cheat off of each other to try to get a higher grade. Third, many kids will want to come to school if they won’t have to sit behind a desk all day.

Columbus State University has a 17:1 student to teacher ratio. The extra attention shown to students, because of a smaller class size, is what helps them, the students, to really understand the material they are learning. In order to be the best I can be, at the subject that I

This year, the united federation of teachers, New Yorks teachers union, did a annual survey and they found out that 7,000 classrooms exceeded the limits acceptable for proper learning. Students should get more individual attention for their learning process and to be able to perform better in grades. The size of a class is very important for many schools like this one because of educational

The classes more discussion-oriented and students are expected to be ready to discuss reading and assignments each class. Most college students feel more comfortable asking for help in smaller class size. In addition, the teacher better understands student strengths and weaknesses. Also, teachers are more apt to help students and it is easier to class become a group of friends. However, in large college, the quality of understanding with professor is not as good and attendance is less likely to count toward your grade. Nonetheless, some people think it is more important to learn from famous professors than to have a small class. According to Stephen Pemberton, class size can make a difference in your education. (“The importance of class size, Match 09, 2009). Conversely, according to Mark Montgomery, educational consultant, smaller classes are taught by the least effective teachers.

And some students learn at different paces and in different ways than each other so each student learns at their own time and less students means less trouble and less distractions with other students and each student’s grades might get better when there is less students and with more students everyone in the school there probably would not be enough supplies for every student.

It is pretty apparent that in America, and elsewhere, most parents and general adults want what is best for their children in terms of education. This mindset can be seen reflected in the legislative aspects of our education system; there are many incentives pushing through the school boards and legislatures of our nation in order to attempt to further refine the education system. This is important as it allows us to refine traditional American education in order to improve upon it, and one of these attempt refinements and improvements has to deal with the subject of class size. For many people, large classroom sizes are a spawning ground for many issues with the education system: high distraction in the classroom, teacher inefficiency, among a plethora of others. Although it may seem regressive to favor small classes over bigger, more potentially diverse classes, small class sizes are more beneficial for education in that it is less distracting for the students and raises the possibility of staying focused, it potentially raises teacher-student relationships, and it allows for better results and better statistics coming from these smaller classes.

teachers over the next seven years to help reduce class sizes to reach the national

A small class is consider to be twenty students or less. In smaller schools there are not as many students so the teachers will be able to help the students more one on one. Students can have a better idea of the content that they are learning and even if they don’t understand then the could talk to the teacher to have a better understanding. In a recent study, students and teachers were randomly assigned to a small class, with an average of 15 students, or a regular class, with an average of 22 students. This large reduction in class size (7 students, or 32 percent) was found to increase student achievement by an amount equivalent to about 3 additional months of schooling four years later. Also, increasing the pupil/teacher ratio in the U.S. by one student would save at least $12 billion per year in teacher salary costs alone, which is roughly