Class Size: Significant or ‘a Minor Factor’?
Re “Congress OKs Overhaul of Public Schools,” Dec. 19: New mandates from Congress to improve education fit Shakespeare’s line, “It is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Why? Because there is not one word in the new mandates about lowering class size. Classes in California are the largest in the nation. I teach five middle school classes of 33 to 38 children every day. You may not hold me accountable for their progress until class size is cut in half. Until then, you should marvel at how much I do accomplish under such inexcusably impersonal circumstances.
Ann Bourman
Los Angeles
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I recommend that anyone who is concerned with our school mathematics education should read “Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics” by Liping Ma. It confirms what I have believed for many years, that the core of the problems in the school mathematics education in the U.S. is the quality of the teachers.
Class size is a minor factor. With the smaller class sizes, we are faced with incredible shortages of teachers and spaces. We have to lower the standards to hire unqualified teachers and forfeit playgrounds permanently for more classrooms and buildings. It is time to examine whether reducing class sizes is worth the price tag.
Liang-shin Hahn
Irvine
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