24 kids in kindergarten?? That is insane!

[Anonymous]

We moved here 2 years ago so I have t had a K student go thru a MCPS yet but I was shocked that the number is that high. My two older kids had 17 and 19. The max was 20 in their district. Is this normal for here?

[Anonymous]

Max is 28 so you are kind of lucky.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Yes, I've always said I would pay more in taxes just to get that ratio down - it would solve a lot of problems in MCPS.

My son's 1st grade class had 31 students in the Spring. The teacher couldn't teach. It was complete mayhem.

[Anonymous]

24 is great. My kid had 29 a few years back.

IF you want smaller class sizes then vote for a different BOE.

Would you rather have 15K computers or more teachers? I prefer money spent on more teachers.

[Anonymous]

24 is no problem. I used to teach and could manage a classroom of 33 (which was the most I ever had). It takes being outrageously organized, having excellent communication skills, and being very strict.

[Anonymous]

My k class had 30 when i was a kid. I don't think it is crazy.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for being lucky at 24. My dd had 27 two years ago.

[Anonymous]

My child had 18 in his K class. The benefits of being in a high FARMs school. (Md. Focus funds)

[Anonymous]

Totally depends on the skills of the teacher and the mix of kids. No one knows how that will work out until they all get together.

[Anonymous]

It takes being outrageously organized, having excellent communication skills, and being very strict.

You think that every teacher with these large classes have these skills?

[Anonymous]

OP, did you find out from the school that there are 24 kids on the class list for your third child, who is starting kindergarten? Is that where this is coming from?

If so, I suggest that you give it a month or two and see how it goes, before getting upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It takes being outrageously organized, having excellent communication skills, and being very strict.

You think that every teacher with these large classes have these skills?

NP here.. And since it is public schools, does that also mean you get problem children? (Not that private doesn't have them too! But someone commented earlier on a different thread that public schools have to teach all the kids while privates can refuse you.)

How does that factor into the mayhem?

[Anonymous]

Mayhem?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:24 is no problem. I used to teach and could manage a classroom of 33 (which was the most I ever had). It takes being outrageously organized, having excellent communication skills, and being very strict.

"Being very strict" ?!? - this is kindergarten! While it is good to have structure, I have seen teachers take the strictness route to extremes (due to large class size, behavior issue kids mixed in the class without enough support, incompetence, personality, etc). It generally has more negative outcomes than positive. Kids start to hate school and are more concerned about getting in trouble than learning. This is not best practice for kindergarten!

And PP - are there any aides in the classroom? Our son had only 22 in his class, but don't think the teacher could have handled even that number without the great aide who was assigned!