Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 17:33     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote: I'd love to know why (budget, most likely).



That makes no sense. The change is to move to (2 teachers for a class of 50 kids) from (2 teachers for 2 classes of 25 kids each). It's still 2 teachers. Budget is not driving this unless the plan is that one of the teachers will be exiting. We've seen no indication of that in any of the postings
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 17:29     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:Yes, yes. It's very important not to discuss changes in how the schools operate. That's the best way to improve the schools and prevent bad ideas from being replicated in other classrooms.



Nobody is saying it's not very important to discuss changes in schools. All we're saying is that we should a discussion based on accurate information.

Running hysterically to DCUM before doing a little research is not the right approach.

Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 17:11     Subject: 50 kids in a class
The school administration had nothing to do with it. The *teachers* wanted to do it. It's kind of ridiculous to read all of these opinions that are based on speculation.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 17:03     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Interesting that the consensus on this thread is that (with some exceptions), parents and teachers agree this is a bad idea. Yet, a school administration put this mega-class in place. I'd love to know why (budget, most likely). Doesn't that tell us a lot about who has the power in the schools? Clearly it's not teachers, parents or students.
I defend public schools a lot (b/c of a strong belief in public schools and what they represent), but things like this make me wonder.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 16:34     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Yes, yes. It's very important not to discuss changes in how the schools operate. That's the best way to improve the schools and prevent bad ideas from being replicated in other classrooms.

Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 15:54     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in third grade at Lafayette. This year, two of the other third grade classes have merged and are being "co-taught" by two teachers. They removed the partitions between the classrooms and each teacher is taking turns teaching 50 kids at a time. Needless to say, some parents are freaking out. The school and the two very highly thought of teachers insist it will be great. Anyone ever heard of thus type of thing before? Maybe if it has worked well at another school these parents will be reassured. I am glad my child s in a different class.


Why post this on DCUM?

1) The information is not completely accurate
2) You haven't talked to the teachers or the principal about it
3) Your kid is not in the class



Yes. People need to stop posting information that is inaccurate and incomplete. Any friend that would post information about my child's class on DCUM is not a friend.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 15:47     Subject: Re:50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:When one teacher is with the 50 kids, what will the other teacher be doing? Working with small groups/individuals or doing prep work? The former strikes me as a justifiable approach, the latter not at all.

We need more info before the collective wisdom of this forum can render a verdict

Funniest thing I've read in ages!
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 14:48     Subject: Re:50 kids in a class
When one teacher is with the 50 kids, what will the other teacher be doing? Working with small groups/individuals or doing prep work? The former strikes me as a justifiable approach, the latter not at all.

We need more info before the collective wisdom of this forum can render a verdict
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 13:39     Subject: 50 kids in a class
This is the craziest thing I have heard in a long time! How in the world does a 3rd grader learn or focus in a room full of 50 kids.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 13:28     Subject: 50 kids in a class
First of all to small classes. The evidence is a lot more nuanced than most people realize. Small classes really only benefitted significantly certain groups. Poorer children and english language learners. Many schools in asia have quite large classes, but they have good class room control due to social pressure makes all the difference. If understand this correctly this was a teacher led proposal if they can't do it they will stop it, given where these kids are coming from I promise it won't stop them from getting into the ivies. Finally I think it is great that the principal is supporting the teachers, really one that bends a the first freak outs of parents is one that can not manage the school.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 11:51     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:My child is in this class and I am not freaking out. First, whoever said "lazy ass teachers" has no idea what they're talking about. The two teachers involved here are two of the absolute best teachers in the entire school. I am withholding judgment on how it will be until after BTS night (which I am looking forward to for entertainment value if nothing else). While it seems like a lot of kids in one large room, they still will do things separately. Also, one of the teachers is pregnant and will take leave in December, I think this gives the kids a sense of continuity that they would not have had when the teacher leaves for 2 months. I don't always love everything at Lafayette, but I am hopeful that these teachers (both very experienced) would not have wanted to do this if they did not absolutely believe it was a good thing. As for class size, I definitely think teachers make the difference as does the composition of the class.



Thanks you for being an oasis of reasonable in this insane thread
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 11:48     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in third grade at Lafayette. This year, two of the other third grade classes have merged and are being "co-taught" by two teachers. They removed the partitions between the classrooms and each teacher is taking turns teaching 50 kids at a time. Needless to say, some parents are freaking out. The school and the two very highly thought of teachers insist it will be great. Anyone ever heard of thus type of thing before? Maybe if it has worked well at another school these parents will be reassured. I am glad my child s in a different class.


Why post this on DCUM?

1) The information is not completely accurate
2) You haven't talked to the teachers or the principal about it
3) Your kid is not in the class
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2011 00:58     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are getting this information 2nd hand so I don't beleive that the OPs information is totally correct and I don't really understand OPs reasoning for coming to this board.

It is still two full-time teachers, teaching 50 kids. We don't know the specifics and really shouldn't be commenting on a 2nd regurgitation of the facts. Unless parents who are actually in the class choose to comment - it's dumb to form an opinion on 2nd hand info.


I know the parent of a child in the class, and op's description is what I have heard, as well.

The thing that amazed me was that the kids were told the first day that there wouldn't be enough seats for all 50, so they should arrive early each day or they would have to sit on the floor. Not sure if this was a temporary thing. If not, that would upset me more than the large class. If you are going to experiment, make sure you are properly equipped.


Still again second hand info. If everyone is so concerned about it, talk to Ms Main for goodness sake. Why is this being discussed here?


My understanding is that people have spoken with the principal, and that she has been unsympathetic/unresponsive.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2011 22:09     Subject: Re:50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. I wasn't complaining, just asking if anyone had heard of this sort of thing before. One of the teachers will be going on maternity leave in a few months so perhaps this is a way of making sure the kids have at least one good teacher if the substitute is a dud.


I know...how about asking the teachers directly why they are taking this approach and report back.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2011 22:01     Subject: 50 kids in a class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: 11:08 here. I don't beleive this was a higher up decision though. It was driven by the teachers. Beyond that I don't know the details of how the class will be run and neither does OP so there is no point debating this without the facts.


Lazy-ass teachers!! This means that they are doing only half the work they are being paid to do. Otherwise, what's the point?


This is a bit harsh, don't you think? I highly doubt teachers would have that much power in the public system (i.e "teacher driven?")


Teacher here. This is not 'lazy - ass' teachers. This most likely has to do with budgets, student population, quantity of teacher positions. These were probably the two teachers who did not put their fingers on their noses quickly enough. No teacher would be happy about this. In a nutshell--untenable. Big no. N-O. NO.