06/4/2012:
"There is way too many kids in the classroom the ratio is more like 32:1.
Teacher is overwhelmed and is not aware of what going on in the class with
the students
"
05/10/2012:
"I'm of the old school. Children going to school must be pre-motivated.
Perhaps all the PreK efforts should make sure that children are properly
motivated before entering the 1st grade. Anyhow, 17 in a class is a joke.
My elementary school had 60 in a class. ..and one nun. A class less than
20 is only an acknowledgment to failure of the system. It is obvious that
China will far outpace our coddling education system . Very sad.
"
04/17/2012:
"I don't think the people who are commenting are fully reading the
articles. Yes, there are classes with more than 15 and 17 students, but,
as it was stated in the articles, those numbers are averages. They are
taken from every class, not just core curriculum classes. These numbers
are derived from core curriculum classes, elective classes, P.E. classes,
and special education classes. Also, these numbers reflect ELEMENTARY
school classroom size averages, not secondary educations class sizes.
"
04/9/2012:
"the board of education should re-read and understand this before placeing
childern in the classroom "
04/3/2012:
"when there are three year olds mixed in with older children the ratio of
student to teacher is 1 teacher for every 6 children. that means if you
have one three year old and the rest are 4-6 you can only have a total of
six children. Is this the case and if not how is this legal?
"
02/13/2012:
"Smaller class sizes cost more money. There is no more money left because
the federal government has mandated too many other things that school
districts have to do instead. Instead of smaller class sizes, students
receive extra testing instead. This extra testing isn't all, though.
Since the federal government needs to have a scapegoat (teachers) to take
the heat instead of the real problem (it's inability to reduce poverty),
students also get weeks of mind-numbing review for these high-stakes
tests. Since they need so much time for review, students also get a
special curriculum--not everything they are supposed to learn, only what
is most likely to appear on these tests. Many special things for the
students instead of smaller class sizes. Thank you, government, for
letting students Race to the Top. How about letting them learn instead?
"
01/18/2012:
"when you take a good look at it the larger a class the less one on one
you will have there are no good benefits to have larger classes at all the
state needs to talk to teachers and then maybe they will get the big
picture!!!
"
11/28/2011:
"I was a student in the first class of a private school in Brooklyn, NY
which began with almost no money. For the first two years, classes were
held in a dank basement of an ancient building. The teachers were
dedicated to excellence, the quality of the curriculum was superb and the
thirty students performed in the highest percentile when tested. Of the
thirty, three became neurosurgeons, another ten became physicians in
various specialties, two are reknown Harvard Law School Professors, and
two are self made billionaires. Throwing money at schools is not the
answer. Demanding curricula, teachers who know their subjects and are
committed to excellence, and stimulated and engaged students are the keys
to success. "Garbage in, garbage out" is what you get when you water down
expectations. We emerged from high school fluent in two languages and with
a working knowledge of a third. We were made to read and discuss the
classics. We were taught how to think.
"
11/14/2011:
"People!! Learn to spell and use correct grammar,please. I don't think
class size matters. It all depends on the student and the teacher.b
"
11/11/2011:
"I have a five year old son attending Phillips for one year and he
complains that the work is long and hard.This is a time in a child's life
were school should not be looked at as a burden but as a learning tool to
promote both academic and social skills.
"
11/2/2011:
"its common sense that smaller class sizes are better less kids means more
time for each individual student leading to better academics for our
youth-_- yours trully the king of pop. "tee hee"
"
11/1/2011:
"this helped me a lot on my project
"
11/1/2011:
"this article helped me on my project :) "
09/30/2011:
"This really helps out a lot because I am doing a research on this
"
08/29/2011:
"My daughter taught at Cienega and her class size was 33 in a core subject.
Don't know where you are getting 17.
"
08/29/2011:
"Sorry, but this is very misleading. This school's first and second grade
classes are larger--22 in first, 25+ in second.
"
08/23/2011:
"I am in Highschool my second year now. I was checking the laws. Florida's
law of no more than 25 students makes sense. For an elective I think the
classes should be smaller. I take art and we have two teachers the one I
have has 34 students in the class. I asked to be swiched with the other
teacher in what I was told was unlikely to be done. I fear I will not get
the sufficent attention I need to pass or understand concepts. My question
is if the class is 40 minutes and the teacher takes half of it explaining
something doesn't that give me less then half a minute of actually having
a 1 on 1 time with the instructor. I also wonder why they wouldn't change
me. It is my choice after all and I wonder why they do not see how a
student is reaching out for Thier own education. If you saw a student
personally reaching out should you or would you not give them as they
please. At least the student is being in school trying for an eduactaion
while some skip class and just simply do not!
care. Why don't the students that do care not have some type of justice
done for them. As I explained there are many flaws in the laws and i hope
they realize some schools do not listen and also some schools need funds
to make more classes for the students to be on a more personal level with
a teacher. Personally I was trying to make an effort for myself but then
again why does the school care? By just saying no they showed they do not
really care as much as the lead on.
"
07/25/2011:
"I agree that smaller classroom sizes can help students do better because
we classes are to large students do not get the help they need affects
their grades "
07/15/2011:
"I'm looking for student profiles. Any links?
"
05/19/2011:
"I'm in 8th and there is about 28 students in my room. The only teachers
who have under 20 students are the special education teachers. And another
thing the teachers don't personally get to know us here as they say they
can. There's 9 periods and each teacher sees over 90 students a day. With
40 minute periods there's not much time for one on one talking with a
teacher."
04/12/2011:
"It is a very mind changing artical."
04/11/2011:
"I think this school sound great I am thinging about seeing that my child
gets to be a part of this school."
04/11/2011:
"yes i defiantly agree"
04/7/2011:
"i really like paradise school. it is the best school you can get in my
opinion. it is 100 years old. please don't let is shut down though."
02/16/2011:
"Another benefit of smaller class size in the lower grades is the greater
opportunity for a teacher to identify students that are struggling or
falling behind. It also gives the teacher a better opportunity to
intervene early, thus building a stronger foundation for future learning."
02/15/2011:
"It takes time for a teacher to individualize for each child, because every
child is at a different stage of development."
02/14/2011:
"Yes, I true DO believe that the small classes are best for the teacher and
students. The students will receive more quality time in the classroom.
The teacher will spend more time quality teaching and less time
disciplining. This is extremely important to get the students ready for
high school and college. In the end, the school will get a higher rating.
It will be a win win situation for everyone concerned."
02/14/2011:
"I am not surprised that the NEA recommends a no more than 15 students per
class. They are a union who wants to employ more teachers. Where does the
research come from that says small classes are needed to provide better
education? It comes from teachers and their unions. Good teachers with a
good curriculum and common sense are what is needed for all children to be
educated. Good teachers can handle larger classes without any
deterioration of curriculum."
12/6/2010:
"I will tell you this, reducing class size no matter what grade the
children are in helps tremendously! My children went from an overcrowded
school in Anne Arundel Co. Maryland to a same size school with smaller
class sizes and it has made a world of difference...they love it and are
thriving! I am afraid to move to Raleigh after seeing the class sizes and
the over crowded schools and I know the one that my child will be
attending and it is ridiculous the amount of children in just one school.
As much money in taxes NC receives build more schools and fix the problem
along with redistricting and put the children in the schools they belong
in! "
11/29/2010:
"I am a baby boomer. I grew up when the schools were crowded. I remember
there being 42 students in one class. In college I was taught the most
important items in getting a good education are 1. teacher expectations 2.
student expectations 3. parent expectation and 4 the student's peer group
expectations. I cannot recommend the Centerville school system. If it
wasn't for the very high quality of its students it would just be another
mediocre school."
11/29/2010:
"I have always wondered how school districts were able to advertise student
to teacher ratios instead of TRUE class size....Student to teacher ratios
that school districts report in their statistical data are ALWAYS bogus.
If a class has a full time teacher and a full time SPED teacher for one
student in a class size of 26 kids....the district reports a Student to
teacher ratio of 13. The SPED teacher does not teach the class, they only
are responsible for that one child. It is very deceiving and quite
dishonest. "
11/29/2010:
"GreatSchools' report on teacher-student ratio is incorrect for my kids'
school. According to GreatSchool, the teacher-student ratio is 16 per
classroom. But in fact, my daughter's classroom has 30-35 students and my
son's classroom has 25-27 students for the past 2 years. The class size
never went below 22 for this school."
11/15/2010:
"How do I share this article via email with the staff at my school?"
11/10/2010:
"I'm interested in finding out about exceptional teachers, teachers that
are not a good fit for certain kids, specifics that help me advocate for
my kid and his/her high school experience. Is there a place on this web
site? Or is there another web site?"
10/18/2010:
"I am concerned about the way 'Great Schools' is reporting class size.
They are simply looking at the number of teachers vs the number of
students. Many teachers in the count teach speech or special education. A
school may seem to have an average class size of 23 but actually a few
classes many be lower or higher. Our district has 30-35 in every class
except special ed classes. There is no way I am able to meet the needs of
all these children! "
10/7/2010:
"It amazes me at how one can skew research to meet the need of the study.
Common sense tells one that needy students need more teacher contact and
that they will only succeed when relationships and quality instruction are
a part of everyday. Class sizes of over 20 are not the only answer to
student learning, but play an integral part in poverty schools. Please
realize the extraneous circumstances that surround schools do not allow
equal to be the same as equitable. Disadvantaged students need more
attention, better quality instructors, and smaller class sizes to be
successful."
08/9/2010:
"Well to be honest with you.When it is a little class amount we do get a
better education,because not many kids are there to pick on you about what
you dont know.It helps because you are one on one with the teachers and
they can help you to the best of your ability to what you know.And you are
able to put your best foot forward into all your work and answer and alot
of the kids get along so no fights and drama.
status:wmms student"
08/3/2010:
"Reduced class size is important to me. I just enrolled my son into a
charter school with class sizes of 20 children. I am concerned that my
son will not receive the same education, attention and advantages that he
received in private school with a class size of 12. How can I be put at
ease an feel more comfident about my chose? "
07/19/2010:
"The teacher/student ratio is inaccurate. My child at Brown Barge has
about 30 students per class. So where does the 15 number come from?
Class size is important. We can not be compared with asian countries.
There are major differences. They can still reprimand students with the
knowledge that officials are behind them. A large class with a few
unruly students can change the learning environment. Don't blame this on
the teachers but blame it on the district that has not established a
viable alternative."
03/22/2010:
"In response to the person wanting to know how thier child would be
clasified. no different than any other child in that school. no matter
if the child has a learning disability or not. They are all treated equal
and if some one does need more help than another then another older
student works with them or a teacher's helper (a parent) but no child is
ignored because the class size is small."
03/19/2010:
"if i send my child to that school will he be clasifyed because lets be
honest that school has children with special needs n i wan kno will they
be clasifyed for attending this school"
02/19/2010:
"size of class is important 25 children to one teacher to much I've seen
it no control at all "
12/8/2009:
"You might want to double check what you are reporting as 'class
size'...This school year every classroom at Polk elementary in Dearborn
heights MI has 30 children, not 24."
08/27/2009:
"Class size is not as important as people make it out to be. In many
countries in Asia, there are thirty to forty kids in a class with one
teacher. Yet, they seem to learn very well - as much as they are expected
to or better. Even with 12 kids, it's not possible for a teacher to sit
down and have every kid understand every concept that is taught. Also,
learning is two-faced. There are the 'understanding' part and the
'repeat-until-you-master' part. What we need is more discipline and
parental involvement at home (not even at school). We shouldn't make a
such a big deal about volunteering at school, either. Teachers should
impart knowledge through lessons. Parents should monitor and help with
kids' progress.
Besides, teachers are not educated enough to be completely responsible for
your children's learning. That is if you are going for excellence."
04/17/2009:
"i love this school it is great "
01/30/2009:
"Class size, school size, district size, attitude, and atmosphere affect
learning.
In the district where we live there are 3 elementary schools: one
with over 2,000 students, a new school with around 1,000, and a small
country school with 3 teachers, one of whom is also the principal. Grades
K-3 have a 20- student limit. Upper grades allow almost twice as many! A
close friend moved from 5th to 3rd so she could really get to know and
reach out to each of her students as well as perform the ever-growing,
time-consuming, non-teaching, under-appreciated extra tasks required of
teachers.
My granddaughter's teacher this year was neither very caring nor
helpful. None of the 9 other first-grade classes at the school had any
room, and the administration couldn't force someone switch. The only
school with room for another first grader was the little one miles away.
There are 2 other districts with schools closer than that!
We opted for Faith Academy, a small K-8 Christian school. It is
close, has a caring staff, offers an after-school program till 5:30 for
$5.00 a day, and costs about $200 less per month than preschool did. Of
course everyone participates in fundraisers.
I believe that small classes are needed for K-6, and also all the
way through college for subjects such as learning another language, where
participation and interaction are crucial, and/or that require a lot of
teacher time outside of class to read, evaluate, and provide constructive
feed-back such as in a writing class.
Small schools are better where students are in self-contained
classrooms. In junior high and especially in high school and college,
students of larger schools often have a bigger choice of courses,
especially if small classes do not fall victim to school or district
'politics.'
"
01/12/2009:
"I suspect the writer of this article was a conservative Republican. I was amazed that I did not read that you would prefer to take take school funding away from public schools and hand those tax dollars over to some type of parochial religous school that would not teach anything about sex education except total abstinence; that you would prefer you children learn about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden instead of learning about evolution; and that teaching anything about global warming should be totally out lawed in any school that your children would attend.
Without a doubt, public school education has been the foundation of every single great leader this county has ever produced. And millions of children have been educated by public school teachers who have stood up and screamed and hollered and had to get down on their knees and beg the public to produce the dollars for the programs that have been so successful in educating all colors of children throughout this country while racist politicians and media have attempted to establish a 'haves' and the 'have nots' society by taking away tax dollars from the public schools full of dedicated teachers who have struggled to teach poor students from the worst of neighborhoods in this country and students of immigrants who do not speak the English language in the home.
Teachers cannot plug a student into a wall socket and expect children from all walks of life, with varying degrees of experiences to take in, assimilate, and reguritate all the correct answers on a state test. No Child Gets Left Behind in public schools in this country even though Geo Dubyah Bush attempted to dismantle public schools by cutting off the funding needed. "
01/2/2009:
"When the mandate to reduce class size in the elementary schools hit the Placentia/Yorba schools, it was a scramble to attract and hire qualified teachers. Because of the area, finding great teachers was for the most part no problem. The point is top teachers like to live and work in nice communities. Having a large supportive parent base for volunteer programs and field trips didn't hurt either. My kids now go to an overly large high school - Esperanza. Class size is larger than average, however, doesn't seem to impact the teachers ability to teach or the kids ability to absorb the learning. Point is, I now believe that a a strong elementary school education in the basics is extremely important to the later learning skills and that the teacher/parent team is everything to the success of a child in school. "
12/23/2008:
"Class size is important..Although next year Los Angeles Unified School district is increasing their class size due to major budget cuts. In LAUSD there will also be a major teacher layoff, many principals and coaches will be forced back into the classroom, which will bump out any newly hired teachers, due to senority.The district may not have enough $$ to function in the year 2010-2011."
12/23/2008:
"I agree that class size DOES matter, but i enrolled my daughter in summit academy middle school and her class sizes are fairly large still (equivelant to regular public school) yet, the teaching staff seems to be MUCH stronger-therefore she's doing better. Grades and behavior- and thats all that matters! She would like to still try our public middle school, but i think she's just fine where she's at."
12/23/2008:
"Class size matters. with 30-35 student in the class rom the student achievement is poor. I don't like that, the boar of educacion have to do something, this is why some student are d d f f, because teacher have not time for them. is too much 30 student for one teacher."
11/21/2008:
"I believe that smaller classes for all are best but as they get older it's not SOOO needed. The kindergartens are new to the system. Have been home with parents or is small preschool classes and have to learn to trust what is going on. As they get older they are more confident. I think High schoolers are better is smaller schools but not so much from smaller classes. They know what is going on, don't need to be one on one with the teachers so much and are preparing to college or the real world. My daughters school is great, we moved her because it was. She is in a class of only 18 kids and she's in kindergarten and loves it. It's only up to 4th grade and there are 3 kindergarten teachers. I can't say i remember the full student count. But i think we need to Make them lower the student count if the count is over 20. But know one listens. Good luck with that."
11/12/2008:
"Class size is UNIMPORTANT. Discipline is important. Remember that when these kids are in UC's and CalState, they will be in a class with 300 other students if not more for Math 101 - with one teacher and 10 TA's.
Small class size is a function of the strength of teachers' unions who couldn't care a *&$^ about the quality of education [of course they will say and preach otherwise].
Bottom-line: Class size does not and will not affect learning. If it does, then none of our kids should go to college.
Rob"
10/28/2008:
"I'm a substitute in New Mexico. Where a 1st grade class has as many as 28 students. The students can go to any school of there choosing. Not staying in there own districts.Which of course makes for overcrowded classrooms and exhausted teachers.
Besides the child that goes to a school where he shouldn't be. Takes the place of the child who should be.I believe if your a new teacher maybe you can get a smaller class the first year. Work your way up from there.For a first time teacher and 28 children,that's a bit intimidating don't you think.LCPS is in a sad shape and in a bad state of mind.So bad that even the subs are not showing up for assignments.Except for myself,I just don't get the calls I use to.B/c I hear the teachers were reprimanded on taking to many days off. Gee,I wonder why ? But here, if you don't use them you loose them ? Now how is that suppose to work ? I'm glad I'm not a teacher for the district. As a sub I can pick and choose.Oh,as Subs here we make $69.00 a day. I haven't seen a raise in the 5years I've for them !"
