Notice it says average class size. There are still a lot of classes over 20. Also, kids behave differently now. If I did half the stuff kids do now I would have been popped by my teacher, the principal, and my dad. Understand certain things people:
Teachers can no longer use spanking.
Students who get suspended can’t not fail due to absences and must be allowed to make up all work so it becomes just a vacation.
I some areas, students can recieve no grade lower than a 60 on a report card.
There are more teenage parents of students in kindergarten & 1st grade.
There are more “Drug” babies with learning problems
And teachers have to follow individual learning plans for their students (let’s see you teach the same lesson 20 different ways in a class period)
When I went to school in the early 60s, the average class size was 26 with 17 in my smallest class and 33 in my largest. 45-50 sounds completely untenable. Research shows that small class size benefits children most in the first few years of school. By the time they reach, say 6th grade, they can work fairly well in larger classes.
The biggest problem with small class sizes is the need for more teachers and more class rooms. And those cost money which most people who don’t have kids in school are unwilling to spend.
BTW, the biggest increases in school are not on the kids in the regular classes but on special ed and adaptive devices (including elevators, ramps, wheelchair lifts and a host of other things most would never think about but are required by law)
Arkansas solved overcrowding by consoladating schools. They close down the best schools and buss the kids to another school where they endure class rooms of 75 kids and a two hour buss ride to and from school. It saves the state money which is much more important than our kids’ education.
Every study shows that the more educated a person the more likely to vote democratic. No wonder the repubs came up with “No child left with a chance to learn.”
I bike to work - upwind both ways. (It changes direction around solar noon.)
Between the NEA (whose public mission is not education but creating good “world citizens”) and the (unconstitutional) Federal Department of Education, class size is NOT the problem with government schools.
In Wisconsin, it takes a lot of snow on the ground to close schools. My parents once sent me off trudging through nine inches (and still falling). All down the block, other kids’ parents were shoveling their cars out and telling me to go home. When I finally did return, my parents were ready to clobber me, but they called the school and were convinced. THis was 2nd grage, so the snow was close to knee deep on me.
I hope all the cranky liberals realize this Republican House of Representatives will be in power for the next two years. They should quit hyperventilating for their own health.
Llewellenbruce over 13 years ago
That’s one way to reduce the class size.
Yukoner over 13 years ago
Hey Nabuqud, we also walked five miles to school, up hill, both ways.
magnamax over 13 years ago
Snow so deep you had jump up to see where you were going.
Sandfan over 13 years ago
Be careful what you wish for…
pamlicorat over 13 years ago
Notice it says average class size. There are still a lot of classes over 20. Also, kids behave differently now. If I did half the stuff kids do now I would have been popped by my teacher, the principal, and my dad. Understand certain things people:
Teachers can no longer use spanking.
Students who get suspended can’t not fail due to absences and must be allowed to make up all work so it becomes just a vacation.
I some areas, students can recieve no grade lower than a 60 on a report card.
There are more teenage parents of students in kindergarten & 1st grade.
There are more “Drug” babies with learning problems
And teachers have to follow individual learning plans for their students (let’s see you teach the same lesson 20 different ways in a class period)
cdward over 13 years ago
When I went to school in the early 60s, the average class size was 26 with 17 in my smallest class and 33 in my largest. 45-50 sounds completely untenable. Research shows that small class size benefits children most in the first few years of school. By the time they reach, say 6th grade, they can work fairly well in larger classes. The biggest problem with small class sizes is the need for more teachers and more class rooms. And those cost money which most people who don’t have kids in school are unwilling to spend. BTW, the biggest increases in school are not on the kids in the regular classes but on special ed and adaptive devices (including elevators, ramps, wheelchair lifts and a host of other things most would never think about but are required by law)
odeliasimone over 13 years ago
More than one way to solve a problem. They had better be thankful for what they have.
adubman over 13 years ago
AND….while walking 4-5 miles to school in the snow, uphill BOTH ways (classic!!)…..we did it….(wait for it!!)….barefoot!!
Tsali-Queyi over 13 years ago
Arkansas solved overcrowding by consoladating schools. They close down the best schools and buss the kids to another school where they endure class rooms of 75 kids and a two hour buss ride to and from school. It saves the state money which is much more important than our kids’ education.
freeholder1 over 13 years ago
And the South WILL rise again, Tsali. It’ll just be to a very low level.
freeholder1 over 13 years ago
Every study shows that the more educated a person the more likely to vote democratic. No wonder the repubs came up with “No child left with a chance to learn.”
tmick2001 over 13 years ago
freeholder1: that’s interesting - I’ll have to look that one up.
strodgers over 13 years ago
Yet it was the Left who came up with the Department of Education. And its been down hill since.
ububobu over 13 years ago
freeholder really meant brainwashed or indoctrinated instead of educated. Liberals redefine or pervert words all the time to promote their agenda.
“Old liberals never die, they just smell that way.”
SaunaBeach over 13 years ago
Do they want smaller windows and doors, too?
stuart over 13 years ago
I bike to work - upwind both ways. (It changes direction around solar noon.)
Between the NEA (whose public mission is not education but creating good “world citizens”) and the (unconstitutional) Federal Department of Education, class size is NOT the problem with government schools.
runar over 13 years ago
The King is a fink!
The King is a Republican!
Six of one…
In Wisconsin, it takes a lot of snow on the ground to close schools. My parents once sent me off trudging through nine inches (and still falling). All down the block, other kids’ parents were shoveling their cars out and telling me to go home. When I finally did return, my parents were ready to clobber me, but they called the school and were convinced. THis was 2nd grage, so the snow was close to knee deep on me.
gamrobi over 13 years ago
as a tax payer, i refuse to pay for more teachers and classrooms. as a parent, i demand a better education for my children.
Keith Messamer over 13 years ago
I hope all the cranky liberals realize this Republican House of Representatives will be in power for the next two years. They should quit hyperventilating for their own health.
freeholder1 over 13 years ago
UB: I won’t disagree with that either. BOTH side brainwash. the Repubs have also gone into dry cleaning.