Class Size Reduction Law

The evidence suggests that increasing class size will not only harm children’s test scores in the short-run, but also in their long-run human capital formation. Money is saved from increasing class size will be more substantial social and educational costs in the future. In addition to high costs, reducing class size have unintended consequences. When California lowered class sizes in 1996, they realized that they did not have enough teachers to meet the challenge. Schools were forced to hire new teachers and add portable classmates to accommodate the state

According to Malcolm Gladwell chapter two of “David and Goliaths” economist Caroline Hoxby found that there was not any significant data indicating smaller classroom sizes had a greater effect on a child’s academic achievement. However; Diana Whitmore Schanzenbach from National Education Policy Center (NEPC), Northwestern University has contradicted Gladwell’s assertion that smaller classroom sizes were not an academic advantage. Schanzenbach review research done by Tennessee’s Student Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) and found many flaws that had been considered in Hoxby research that conflicted with much of the research that has already been concluded. There has been a considerable amount of research and much of it has concluded with: the children who were placed in a classroom with less students from kindergarten to third grade, scored higher during academic testing, and were more likely to continue to achieve higher grades throughout their school years. Because education is an important stepping stone for children, it is crucial their educational needs are exceeded while they are young and still able to grasp.

With I-1351 there will be a drastic reduction in classroom sizes. The approved I-1351 would amend the previously mentioned RCW 28A.151.260. The sizes of classrooms would now be as follows: Grades K-3 17.0, Grade 4 25.0, Grades 5-6 25.0, Grades 7-8 25.0, and Grades 9-12 25.0. Perspective teachers in the State of Washington should be thrilled to know that there is such an emphasis on improved student to teacher ratios. The reduction in the ratio of students per teacher gives professional educators the greatest opportunity to successfully do their jobs. With smaller classroom sizes professional educators are able to provide a more individualized learning environment. Professionals in the education fields know that a classroom of 25 students

Because the student to teacher ratio has increased so severely, teachers have been forced to change their teaching styles and a large number of parents are angered about their student’s “loss of quality to education” (The pros and cons of education budget cuts: An investigative study). The article, “School Budget Cuts: How Students Say Slashes Are Affecting Them,” reveals the results of a survey conducted by the teen newspaper, L.A. Youth, asking more than 1,850 students about experiences they have had in the classroom in the past two years. The survey reports that 57 percent of students had to copy information from an overhead because there wasn’t enough paper to make copies of a lesson for everyone. Not enough computers were available to 52 percent of the students, 51 percent had to share textbooks, and 37 percent of the students surveyed reported that they did not have a desk to sit at. This is only 1,850

Cowardice Many fear that their bad actions of becoming public since their reputations would be in jeopardy. Throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dimmesdale demonstrates to be a lowly coward who worries more to preserve his reputation and save himself from shame. Although Dimmesdale greatly suffered in silence after his sin, he was never brave enough to confess his sin making him a lowly coward. Dimmesdale demonstrated to be a lowly coward because he had many opportunities to confess himself, one being up on the scaffold.

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.

One of the biggest wars that happened in the past was World War 1. World War 1 was a conflict between the Allied Powers (France, Russia, Britain, Italy and the United States), and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria Hungary and the Ottoman Empire). The war grew from years of European competition over trade, colonies, allies, and armaments.

Generally, reducing class size is attractive to both parents, students and teachers. According to Eugene M. Lewit and Linda Schuurmann Baker, one recent national poll found that 70% of adults believe that reducing class size would result in substantial improvements in public schools and less than 10% believed it would have no impact. Here we will discuss many of the potential costs and benefits that reducing class size may bring to students, schools and the society. (Lewit and Baker, pg 1)

For decades there have been debates about whether or not class size matter. I think more people believe this to be true than false. I believe it can be either true or false depending on the circumstances. I remember having about 30 to 32 students in the class room when I was in grade school. It was never a problem for me then. I believe the class size matters when the students are in elementary school. Let’s face it we weren’t born knowing how to be successful in school. I believe that at some point we are responsible for how we’re doing in school. Learning outcomes can be a result of the teacher’s teaching skills, the student may have a learning disability, or the student is simply not motivated and focus in class for numerous reasons. The size of a class may or may not affect learning outcomes depending upon the circumstances.

Due to financial issues, any districts hardest hit had no choice but to move around resources to make up the difference in their actual spending and funds provided by the state due to the Class Size Reduction (CSRe) experiment in California. While accountability was not intended to so strongly influence what

Smaller class sizes are a pivotal reason as to why parents should send their children to private school. Private schools have smaller class sizes, which allow for more individualized instruction on various subject matters, and they improve student-teacher relationships. For instance, “Small classes allow teachers to give students more individual attention and lighten the teacher’s workload, and therefore are generally considered desirable” (Choy 14). Subsequently, by having a smaller class size, a student

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

Kindergarten teachers always earn my greatest respect. In California, the class size has increased to 22 students for kindergarten to third grade. One teacher versus 22 students, coming from different background and educational level, really is a big challenge for another to take. Given that some students have gone through preschool and some who have never had any group experience prior to entering kindergarten, that creates a gigantic tap among the kids in one class. The first couple months into the school year, teachers would spend the majority of time establishing structure, routine, and disciplines. Without these being taken place in the beginning of the year, teaching is almost an impossible task to accomplish. The class size needs to be limited to maximize the discipline and the learning, or another option is to have a teacher’s aid in the class to assist the lead teacher. Reduction of class size benefits both the teachers and the students. With a small size, teachers can better control their classrooms, and thus, able to allocate

Class size is a very popular topic that is greatly research through out educational settings. Class size deals with how many students are in the classroom at once. Class size can vary greatly. It can depended on the location of the school, where the more rural areas have only one high school while in a city environment there could be twenty-three high schools in one area. Location also depends on the amount of population in that area. Class size also can depend on the level of schooling. Such as in a major university there could be two hundred students in one class, while in a local elementary school there is only eighteen students in one class. Class size can depend on what kind of class is being taught. In

October 27, 2008 was the start of the best day of her life as she would soon find out. Her younger sister, Shawneequa, was only fourteen months old and her younger brother, Vern, was three years old. Then, of course, there was Marion; she was only five years old. T’was the night when her mother and father were consuming lots of alcohol with friends, who, even she did not recognize and she knew her parents had loads of friends.