Xref: utzoo comp.edu:1074 misc.headlines:2613
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!nuchat!elg
From: elg@nuchat.UUCP (Eric Green)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,misc.headlines
Subject: Reducing class size said waste
Message-ID: <882@nuchat.UUCP>
Date: 1 Apr 88 06:41:56 GMT
Organization: Public Access - Houston, Tx
Lines: 34


From AP newsitem:

Reducing class size in publis schools is very expensive and likely 
"a waste of money and effort" for those seeking improved student
achievement, according to a study issued Wednesday by the Department
of Education.
   There now re 24 pupils  in the typical  public elementary school
classroom, down from 30 in 1961. Past research has indicated
classes would need to be 15 students to have any appreciable impact.
  But that would cost upwards of 69 billion and require hiring a 
million new teachers, when school systems already have problems
finding qualified teachers.

"the number of students they teach has never been fewer and .. their
workload has never been lighter," said he report,
"Class Size and Public Policy: Politics and Panaceas."
"lowering class size has become an ersatz reform goal around the
country. There are a lot of better and less costly things you can
do and get better results."
   The preport emphasized that Japan has achieved the world's highest
math achievement scores with math classes that average 41 pupiles.

"available resources should instead be directed to improving the
quality of instruction and teachers' ability to manage the
demands of classrooms as they are currently configured."

---------
Commentary: If we continue to teach our children using the same
old outdated methods that we've been using for the past 50-80 years,
class size could be FIVE and still not be "low enough".


Eric Green  uunet!nuchat!elg