SK>I've been following this thread, but haven't added comments up to
SK>this point. I would CERTAINLY argue in favor of class size, but when
SK>you commented some time back (the first time you brought up the
SK>topic) about the "right mix" of kids, and how a small group can be
SK>terrible and a large group with the "right mix" might be quite
SK>pleasant, this seemed to correspond to my experience as well. So I
SK>didn't say anything.  
SK>But the longer this thread goes on, the more I think about it, and
SK>the more I think that "the right mix" is the wrong idea.
SK> 
SK>I think it simply boils down to this: A few trouble makers in ANY
SK>size class, including a small class, can really throw a wrench into
SK>the works. When this handful of trouble makers is removed, (say they
SK>happend to be absent on the same day) the class becomes positively
SK>enjoyable. What this boils down to, then, is an argument in favor of
SK>self-motivated, cooperative students.
I agree with you in spirit here.  Every class has a challenging student 
(in terms of behavior) and every class has its own unique personality.  
True that a few students who are consistently discipline problems can 
make even a small class less manageable, a creative teacher can finds 
ways to even motivate the unmotivated.  The "right mix" is far more 
important than numbers (in my experience).  I also agree with you that 
studies which show smaller class size to be a factor in maximizing 
learning have too many variables to consider to draw specific 
conclusions regarding class size.  That's in spirit.  Now the 
reality....
Class size must be important....there must be a "maximum" number of 
students per class in order for effective teaching and learning to take 
place.  Suppose class size in an elementary school approached 75 per 
class.  Would anyone support this?  I don't think anyone would.  I think 
most educators would see 75 as excessive.  What about 60 then?  Ok Ok so 
Im being unreasonable.  Surely 50 students should be manageable.  No?  
How about 40.  Am I getting warm?  30?  20?  10?
The point I am hopefully making is that there is a saturation point in 
terms of class size.  Forget the right mix stuff....it's a crap shoot.  
You don't know what ya got til ya got it.  Lower class sizes do minimize 
the challenges teachers face.  
Take 4 classrooms of 32 kids.  4th graders.  Big class....32 papers of 
everything to correct.  32 of everything (report cards, conferences, 
whatever).  Now take those 128 kids....put them in 5 classes and you 
have about 25 per class (25, 25, 26, 26, 26).  That's nearly 7 fewer 
student per class.  That one small work group less.  With 6 classes of 
128 you have 21 students per class.  Now, I find it hard to believe that 
21 students (in this particular group of 4th graders) would not be 
easier than 32.  The same is true, I think, for 26 per class.  
We cannot control the mix (ok yes we can to some degree through 
classroom assignments) and the many other variables are not within our 
control either.  But class size is a variable (of classroom success) and 
we can control it.  
Ok.....Im done now.....  
* CMPQwk #1.42* UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY
--- GEcho 1.11+
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