Quality Crushed in Crowded Classes

* As a kindergarten teacher with 34 children in my class, I empathize with Marie Gruver (“ . . . And Then There Were 34,” May 9). Her frustrations are mine: the little child sharing or reading a story cut off before finishing; the uncooperative children demanding a disproportionate amount of time; the accelerated student “cruising” on his/her own; the too-young child becoming frustrated, then disruptive.

At last some educational experts (where did you find them) actually recognize that large class size can erode the quality of learning. Too often we teachers are brainwashed by the “ivory tower” experts who tell us that “research” does not back up the contention that class size is a factor in the quality of learning.

For real learning to take place, questions need to be answered, curiosity encouraged and excellence rewarded, not put on cruise control.

I’ve dedicated more than 20 years to public education in California. It breaks my heart to be rated last or almost last in so many areas. Our children are the best and deserve the best.

If conditions do not change for the better, the private schools will be the winners and public education the losers.

MICHELLE PRENTICE-SMITH

Yorba Linda