Reply to FCPS Class Size Petition- Please sign (and pass around for signatures)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would point out that the schools that are affluent and have large class sizes actually do very well, so I would question whether they need smaller class sizes if it means taking money from underperforming schools that, at present, have smaller class sizes.  The budget these days seems to be a zero sum game, so if you add it somewhere, it will come from somewhere else.  I think in the class size debate (as with most of these budget issues), it  matters very much where the money would come from.[/quote]

First let me say I've never read the forums on this site before the past couple days but I am impressed with the thoughtfulness and politeness of the people on here!  Class size is kind of a big hairy beast for such a big and diverse school system isn't it?  In response to the above poster, I would just say there are many more factors in smart education policy other than the metrics of standardized tests.  Those don't measure whether a child reaches his/her full potential - maybe those kids could achieve even more if their classes weren't so crowded.  I've heard many a parent say that in a big class it's the lowest and highest achievers who get the attention and that children in the middle of the pack lose out.  So maybe they hit their benchmarks at a nice average level but what about that loss of potential?  It's not fair to say to them that they don't get to reach their highest potential, right?  
And what about gradual loss of teacher talent - also not measured in those standardized tests.  I have a specific wonderful new teacher in mind who is amazing but saddled with a huge class for the 2nd year.  I can see if this keeps up that she will not be able to keep her standards where they are over the long term with the kind of class-size-related stress she wades through to get to the actual teaching. 
 
Sorry to be so long here but another thought: if, as long as the metrics look good, class size should be raised and raised, when do you stop?  How big is too big?  35?  40?  At some point the size itself, the size of the room, (kids report trouble concentrating from noise and close physical proximity, and at Wolftrap I have heard they even put in a "coping couch" in the hall for kids to escape stress of the classroom) and just the ability of a teacher to control for noise and behavior makes the class size not doable.  And what about things like FLES?  How can you effectively teach foreign language to 30+ young kids at once? Class sizes should be pulled under control first before anyone attempts to teach a language, otherwise in the big classes FLES is not a good use of funds.

For the research: from what I've heard about the research, few if any studies look at class sizes around the 30 mark and above.  Has anyone heard otherwise?  I don't think you can extrapolate from a study using smaller sizes, and apply those results to other higher sizes.    
And then finally - to end on a positive note! :) FCPS needs to find a way to be innovative enough and cost-effective enough to find some solution for the small percentage of oversize classes without taking from the schools with high numbers of needy kids to accomplish it.    I just can't believe the only way to fix oversize classes (for the relatively few kids enduring it) is to take from schools with tons of needy kids.  I believe FCPS will find a way - I'm impressed with the new leadership in Karen Garza!  [/quote]

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