Schools

Commentary: Are Class Sizes Getting Too Big in IC?

Large classes have some parents concerned about learning environment.

One teacher, 33 kids and two grades in one classroom.

"How can kids learn in that setting?" some parents are asking Iowa City school district officials. They feel it is too crowded for their children to learn effectively.

"My concern is that each child is not getting the education they need due to the teaching dilution, which occurs with these large numbers," said parent Bronwyn Threlkeld-Wiegand in an Aug. 25 letter to Iowa City schools Superintendent Steve Murley.

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She has a son in one of the three fifth-sixth grade combo classes at . Each has at least 32 students. One of the classes recently added another student and a 34th is supposed to come within the next few weeks.

No doubt budget constraints play a role in the number of teachers the district can employ, which Murley has pointed out. The district cut 20 positions at the end of last school year.

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Still, the debate wages about the importance of class size.

How many students are in your child's classroom, and how is the learning environment? Let us know in the comment section below. With school board elections coming you also have the opportunity to bring this and other issues .

Here is an interesting debate on the importance of class-size from CNN via Huffington Post. A parent and executive director of the advocacy group Class Size Matters points to research that says reducing class size improves the quality of learning. A Harvard University researcher argues the cost of adding more resources doesn't necessarily translate to better education.

Here is another link to SAGE and Project STAR studies about class size.

To be upfront, my son is in one of these classrooms, and my wife is among the parents that have written to the school district.

Last year, my son was in a third-fourth grade class with similar numbers. Parents wrote in at that time, too, and the district added another teacher and rebalanced with a more reasonable 24 students per room.

Here is an excerpt of Threlkeld-Wiegand's letter to Murley.

"I am writing to voice my discontent with class size for all of the 5th/6th grade classes this year at Longfellow Elementary School. ... My son loves school. He was so excited to start 5th grade last Thursday. He is an interactive learner and enjoys being called on. (He) is independent but also values teacher time to check his work and provide feedback. With a class of 32 students, I see no way for (his) educational experience to be optimum this year."

"(His) class of 32 is the average class size for the two other 5/6th grade classes at Longfellow, also. Last year, when the 3rd/4th classes were bursting at the seams with these same numbers, another teacher was hired and classes were reduced to a reasonable 24. When this occurred, (he) said that school was so much better because it was quieter and he was called on more frequently. I have high regard for (his) current teachers and this is not a reflection against them. My concern is that each child is not getting the education they need due to the teaching dilution, which occurs with these large numbers."


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