Quotes are taken from a message written by Dan to Charles on 07/09/96...
DT>I find the ideal class for me to be around 24 (and that's at the high 
DT>end).
I don't mean to play the semantics game with you, but I find the ideal 
class size to be 1.  As for the most cost-effective class size, I find 
that it depends on the ability level of the kids.  An 
advanced/accelerated class can work well with as many as 27 or 28 kids, 
average classes are best at around 20 and below average classes are best 
at 15 or under.  But that's with *my* teaching style.  With slower kids 
I like to do a lot of 1-on-1 and small group work and that means smaller 
classes both for control and for getting to each kid to provide help. 
DT>As far as home schooling goes, I know of several parents who are 
DT>home schooling their children.
I honestly don't know anyone doing it.  I understand there are some 
parents who do a very good job with it, even getting their children into 
some pretty prestigious colleges.  My own anecdotal experiences are far 
more negative.
In discussing some of the families in our district with the 
superintendent a number of years ago, he was complaining about several 
families purportedly homeschooling who were providing no educational 
experiences for the kids beyond "Bible" lessons and housekeeping.  He 
was powerless to force the parents to do some actual teaching and the 
children were growing up incapable of reading or doing simple math.
My father, while serving as a superintendent of schools in a rural 
district in the Catskills, tried taking a similar family to court for 
neglect - the parents said they were homeschooling, but in fact were not 
providing any education at all for the kids.  My dad lost the case and 
the kids continued to get neglected.
It is probably right that parents have the ultimate word in raising 
their own children, but when it comes to educational neglect I'd guess 
we all lose when the children of those families are incapable of 
participating in our economy as adults.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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