CLASS SIZES. WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILD.
The class sizes debate is one of the great discussions going on in the world of education today. If we can just reduce class sizes, the thinking goes, we can bring all student achievement scores up.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to the class sizes debate. The side that advocates for smaller class sizes rightly points to research that shows significant achievement gains by minority and disadvantaged students. Others believe that money spent reducing class sizes—and it is significant—would be better spent on teacher training.
Those who advocate the teacher training route point to research that suggests the biggest difference in student achievement is made by the quality of the teacher. And, they argue, when you reduce class sizes, you have to hire more—usually less effective—teachers.
American schools present a variety of special challenges, including students who don’t speak English or come from a culture that doesn’t embrace education. The end result is that a one-size-fits-all education is not conducive to achieving high standardized test scores.
Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea have been consistently high performers on standardized tests. Do they have small class sizes?
The fact is that average class sizes in Japan are around 33 and in South Korea it is 36. In America the average class size is 25.
Still, numerous studies suggest that when average class sizes in the United States are 13 to 17 students there is significant improvement in quality of life across the board later in life. Further, these students were more likely to go to college, get married, and buy a house.
In a perfect world there is no question that class sizes of 13 to 17 students coupled with highly effective teachers would be the ideal. But budget shortfalls will only lead to larger class sizes.
The state of Florida alone estimates a cost of $40 billion over ten years to reduce its class sizes. Would that money be better spent investing in better teachers?
So what to do about class sizes? The evidence in favor of small class sizes is overwhelming. Japan and South Korea notwithstanding, America has an all-inclusive educational policy and right now the system is failing minority and disadvantaged students. It makes sense to target smaller class sizes in those communities where it will be most effective.
Many educational policy experts promote the idea that simply giving money to education is the solution to all educational problems. It is not.
Targeting that money toward what has been proven to work for the neediest students is the way to go.
Other educators around the country are experimenting with innovative teaching concepts that just may prove to be a big part of the answer. One school has seen some positive results by turning the class sizes issue on its head. Instead of having one classroom teacher with 15 students they have seen some success using one classroom of 60 students with four teachers. Other schools have seen test scores rise by employing math and reading specialists where they are needed most.
The debate will continue to rage, of course, despite the evidence.