Class Size Continues To Be An Issue

Once again we are back to the issue of class size, mostly because it is still not solved. Recent reports show that, for the most part, classes in all grades have not meet the United Federation of Teachers class-size limits. Class size has dropped less than one percent in most grade levels, and even this is due to lower enrollment rate, not a DOE policy. In some districts, like District 3, class size has even increased. The biggest problem with reducing class size is space; schools need more classrooms to create more classes. Lydia Wileden for the Columbia Spectator:

Thus far, the DOE has created only 20 new classrooms throughout the city, despite being allotted $90 million in state funds for this purpose, a fact that an audit completed by the state comptroller’s office revealed.

The matter comes back to the DOE not allocating its money properly and not making the reduction of class size a priority. In a recent interview with WNBC, Joel Klein said,

I don’t know a parent alive who wouldn’t want their kid in a class of 25 with a great teacher rather than in a class of 20 with a mediocre teacher.

Creating a school system with all excellent teachers is great, but no matter how great the teachers are, they can only do so much as one person teaching 25+ kids.