Negative Effect Of Class Size

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.

Legislators, teachers and parents produce many groups in America 's society that are most interested in improving primary education. These actors recognize the importance of improving primary education to create a more stable, knowledgeable and successful society for all of the country. One highly debated issue in education reform is the student to teacher ratio in classrooms. Many parents and teachers want to see a decrease in class sizes so that students receive more individualized education and become more socially developed. Conversely, a large sum of Americans, mainly government officials, are not convinced that reducing class sizes will lead to the outcome that activists and parents are imagining. Student education at a primary level affects all of society, either directly or indirectly. America is highly concerned with education reform, and decreasing the amount of students per class in grades K through three is a logical solution to better the education provided to American students. Class size reductions cause for many positive effects such as more individualized learning, better developed social skills and a more educated youth leading to a more successful society in the future. Education reform can best be achieved through decreasing the number of students in classes, especially at the primary level.

Researchers studies on the class size have differed. Some have found no significant impact; others have discovered that student achievement declines slightly as class size increases. More recently, others have found that students in a smaller class learn more because of the size and one-on-one time. Medium classes have

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

In every teacher or parent survey the number one thing that most parents and teachers are worried about is class size because most adults want their student or kid to have a small class size so then he or she gets all the support they can. New York city schools, has said class size and teaching improvement is something very important because having a big amount of students in one class will be a distraction for others. Many schools agree. Overcrowding schools is a big

With the lack of high-quality research related to the effects of class size on student achievement, there is not a valid argument for decreasing class size in our schools. Additionally, taking on the extra 1-2 students in each class will only help with master scheduling issues and course offerings. If we continue to reduce class size, our students are the ones who will be negatively impacted as we will be unable to provide certain courses for all students. There are instances when a teacher may have one to two sections of a given class, and if we are a few students over, those students cannot take the course they want, or possibly need. This is not an issue we want to face, nor do we want to deny our students a proper education that fits their own individual needs. The flexibility of being able to include up to 36 students in any one class ensures that there is enough space for more of our students. In an effort to convince the Teachers Association to concede to this change, it is appropriate to offer them something in return. In this instance, it may be fitting to offer to keep elementary class size pupil-teacher ratio to 1:28, making it clear that we will not ask to increase their class size if they agree to the 4-12 growth. Increasing class size is vital for the district as we are forging ahead into uncertain times with the closing of our primary source of revenue, Diablo Canyon. We have to be

Are Classrooms in today’s society sized correctly? Classroom size affects student’s ability to learn. When classrooms are engulfed with students, students don’t have the learning opportunity they should; smaller classes have proven to lead to more academic success. Across the nation school districts struggle to provide appropriate learning conditions for students, school districts are even breaking state class size reduction laws. In the fall of 2014, the School district of Brevard County, Florida surpassed more than $100,000 in fines due to the inability to size classrooms within the state’s sizing limit mandate (Petrilli). Florida school districts approved of a mandate that places a cap on the number of students allowed in a single classroom. These new requirements mean that school districts must reduce pupil-teacher ratios in every classroom to 18-to-1 in prekindergarten though 3rd grade, 22-to-1 in grades 4-8, and 25-to-1 in high school, or face financial penalties from the state department of education (McNeil). School districts like this one, struggle to provide the classrooms and teachers needed for students to have an equal opportunity of success due to lack of funding. Without proper funding schools are unable to hire enough teachers, leading to very high pupil-teacher ratios. If school districts employ more teachers, class sizes would decrease, essentially leading to more academic success among students.

Have you ever just thought to yourself, or maybe even asked out loud if in the classrooms, does the student size really matter. I’ve always wondered that, and how many students it would take to fill out a normal, American sized classroom. I have technically come to the conclusion that yes, I think that it does matter because the average class size is approximately 23.1 students, and 23.1 students fill the typical American primary school classroom, which is just above the O.E.C.D. average of 21.4 students. In lower secondary schools, the average American class size is 24.3 students, compared with 23.9 across the O.E.C.D. The class size matters because if you are teaching in a big classroom, and a bunch of kids don’t show up, it could mess up

Do you think class size really matter? Well I think class size matter and I say this for many reasons. 1 if you have a lot of kids in your class some don't get enough attention they need.2 the kids won't get the technology they need in order to reach their academic goals. And last but not the student to teacher ratio. But on the other hand the schools wont want to turn down kids just because they don’t have enough space or a teacher leaves or teaches another subject.

Proponents of large class sizes hint at the cost and lack of present day research as a reason for not lowering class sizes. Furthermore, proponents for larger class sizes argue that they allow for more independence and an increase of ideas in discussion due to more students in the classroom. Moreover, there isn't enough funding to implement smaller classes in public schools around the country. In the last five years there has been plenty of protests over teachers wages and the cutting of education programs at schools. This has in turn led to more teachers being handed out pink slips because states and schools don't put enough money toward education. For example, this can be seen at The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the university

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.

In recent literature from Justus J. Randolph (Randolph, Kangas, & Ruokamo, 2010) he proposes that smaller class sizes for students are beneficial in early academic levels, along with the valuable one-on-one time provided for underachieving students. Unfortunately, Grubb (Grubb & Allen, 2011) states, these basic necessities aren’t happening. Despite those who oppose the expenses associated with smaller class size, the benefit obtained in regards to the increased students learning and understanding outweighs the price. Does the benefit of smaller class sizes for students’ learning experiences outweigh the potential costs?

The state randomly assigned students to smaller classes with 13-17 students, regular classes with 22-26 students and regular classes with an aide. The research not only showed that all smaller classroom size improved student’s academic achievement but in particular minority students improved at a higher rate than non-minority students. The Center for Public Education (n.d.) agrees by recommending that class size of no more than 18 students be implemented in kindergarten through third grade to increase student achievement.

The future of the country is sitting right now in a classroom learning the fundamentals to succeed and take on many challenges in a career path. We stress that the students are the future, but are they really receiving enough education to take on such a task. Class sizes vary depending on the school. In 2011, the average class sizes in Texas was said to be twenty two students per class room (Dallas Morning News). With that in mind, the real question is can teachers accomplish their intended tasks as educators with 30-40 students in a classroom. Class sizes are increasing due to budget cuts made in the state of Texas. There are many factors that come to mind for example there are students with learning disabilities that require more attention when it comes to learning, foreign transfer students that require extra help adapting to the English language, and the many disadvantages that come with larger classes such as extra time for answering questions and helping students get a better understanding. There are also studies that indicate the advantages about reducing class sizes starting in grade school. From real teachers point of view it would be difficult to accomplish their tasks, but they would be willing to try and make it work with class sizes over the average number of twenty two. Overall teachers should not be expected to accomplish their intended task in a thirty to forty classroom size because it would be impossible to teach and make sure all students grasp all the

In discussions of class sizes, one controversial issue has been the number of students in one class matter to how the students learn. On one hand, some students argue that they learn better in large classes. On the other hand, the majority student body can’t focus in large classes; they prefer small classes. Other even maintain number of students in classes for the size really matters. My own view is large classes are too noise and distracting, therefore, there needs to be smaller classes.When it comes to the topic of how are the statistics on passing students in larger classes compared to the statistics in small classes, most of us will readily agree that students should be passing no matter how big or small the classes are. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what are the statistics between the two. Where as some are convinced that students should be able to understand and get the knowledge to pass the class, others maintain that students struggle with the concept of learning, which makes it difficult to get assignment done. In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of class sizes can’t have it both ways. Their assertion that class sizes shouldn’t matter is contradicted by their claim that students will learn better and easier with more peers around them and not a lot of one- on- one with the teacher.