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[quote=Anonymous]This experiment in grouping kids is not new. It is part of the Open Classroom Movement in the 70's , which did not work well. There is an interesting article from New York Times from a few months ago about grouping 60 kids with 4 teachers in one big classroom. 
 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/education/11class.html?pagewanted=all

It didn't work then, it won't work well now for most students. (I can imagine a kid who is shy peeing in her pants instead of announcing that she has to go in front of 49 other kids.) While a few kids will thrive, the noise level and extra distractions will lead to a terrible learning environment for most. Then the added problem of one teacher going on maternity leave will lead to an even more chaotic environment.  Did they handpick which students would do well in that environment or were the students randomly enrolled in that class? Did parents have the right to opt out of that placement? I used to teach elementary school in California in the 90's when they reduced class sizes in early elementary. Eight weeks into the school year I went from having 32 first graders to only 20 (they pulled 12 kids out of my class). It was by far the best day of my teaching career. The classroom was quieter and calmer which wouldn't have happened if they stuck 8 more kids in the classroom and assigned a second teacher (something that did happen at other schools).  The whole chemistry of the classroom changed for the better. I pity the kids in that classroom with 50 kids. [/quote]

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