As class sizes across the nation continue to grow, the debate for smaller classes compared to larger classes continues. Recently on a CNN segment, Leonie Haimson, founder and executive director of Class Size Matters, advocated the importance of smaller classes and its benefits. Justin Snider, an advising dean at Columbia U., opposed her and discussed the attempts of class size reduction in Florida and California, which resulted in very minute positive outcomes.
Haimson underscored that class size is most important for young children, where attentive and one-on-one learning is critical for early stage development. Smaller classes are also essential for high school students, who currently are not graduating with the necessary skills to enter and excel at the college-level. Rather, they must enroll in remedial classes –reviewing and learning topics that should have been learned in high school. Furthermore, she stated, “When you look at class size, our class sizes are somewhere in the middle or the top of the other industrialized countries.” She also said that any student reduction makes a difference, which would increase learning for every student.
On the other hand, Snider focused on the class size reduction policy instituted in the Florida and California education system. He stated that in 1996 a $20 million investment was made, yet it “didn’t lead to improved achievement”. Additionally, class size reduction only makes a difference with large numbers. The cutback of one or two students does not have a measurable effect. He believes that the student-to-teacher ratio has dropped, because of increasing number of professionals involved in a class, so there is no need for smaller classes.
What do you think?
A deeper and detailed view of both sides of the debate can be found below.
For Smaller Classes
For Larger Classes
Haimson underscored that class size is most important for young children, where attentive and one-on-one learning is critical for early stage development. Smaller classes are also essential for high school students, who currently are not graduating with the necessary skills to enter and excel at the college-level. Rather, they must enroll in remedial classes –reviewing and learning topics that should have been learned in high school. Furthermore, she stated, “When you look at class size, our class sizes are somewhere in the middle or the top of the other industrialized countries.” She also said that any student reduction makes a difference, which would increase learning for every student.
On the other hand, Snider focused on the class size reduction policy instituted in the Florida and California education system. He stated that in 1996 a $20 million investment was made, yet it “didn’t lead to improved achievement”. Additionally, class size reduction only makes a difference with large numbers. The cutback of one or two students does not have a measurable effect. He believes that the student-to-teacher ratio has dropped, because of increasing number of professionals involved in a class, so there is no need for smaller classes.
What do you think?
A deeper and detailed view of both sides of the debate can be found below.
For Smaller Classes
For Larger Classes
Leave a comment