ON CLASSROOM SIZE

Alphachirpy asks:                                          

Alphachirpy asks:

 DOES CLASSROOM SIZE MATTER?

                                                                       RESEARCH YIELDS

SURPRISES!

One would intuitively think reducing the number of students in a school classroom would result in better results like higher grades and achievement.

Studies do not, however, bear this out. And, unfortunately, the studies are few in number.

The largest recent study took place between 1985 and 1989 in Tennessee, about 28 years ago.  It involves some 1,200 teachers and almost 12,000 students, led by Jeremy Finn of the University of Buffalo. (It was knows as Project Star: Student Teacher Achievement Ratio)

RESULTS: An inconclusive mixed bag.

Public School advocates assume smaller classes would result in improving the achievement of students.

“If we throw more money at the problem (hiring more teachers) we surely will make thigs better, right?” “Each student will get more quality time with their teacher, so will do better, right?”

Well, no.

The Tennessee study found, most importantly, that teachers with fewer students do not automatically change their teaching methods just because they have more time to spend with a student.

 Other studies have signaled similar results.

Another conclusion from Project Star (Tough not based on statistical data) was that students tend to behave better, and participate more, in a smaller class. Reason: They cannot hide in the back of a small class of students.

What happened during the Great Depression period when many money strapped school districts had to fire teachers, enlarge class size, and consolidate districts into fewer districts and even close schools altogether? The data over those years showed that overall achievement levels remained about the same; they did not decline.