Do Larger Class Sizes Make A Difference?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/education/27oneducation.html?_r=1

When districts and states lack funds, cutting teachers one of the first priorities.  Today's article holds research supporting smaller class sizes.  Ask any teacher and they will say they prefer smaller class sizes so they can give individualized attention.  In a class of 15 students, each child will get 1-on-1 attention multiple times a day.  In a class of 30 students, each child will be lucky if they get a 1-on-1 with their teacher each day.  Low-income schools face the challenge of students entering school lacking respect for education and authority.  Classroom management becomes a priority before academic teaching. 

The research in the article supports smaller class sizes in earlier grades, so I am going on a hunt to find research about later grades.  In older grades, increased behavior issues and physical space are a few of the challenges that accompany larger class sizes.  Many parents prefer their child to receive individualized support throughout ALL grades, not just primary.  Since many policy makers attended private schools with small class sizes, they are unable to compare the situations, therefore eager to vote to increase class size.  It is up to educators and parents to stand our ground and fight for student rights to be treated as the special individuals that they are.

Making Longer School Days

Chicago wants a longer school day.  When comparing a high performing suburban school teacher's day with an inner-city Chicago Public School teacher's day, the instructional time is the same, take out lunch, recess, and bathroom times.  Each state mandates a required number of instructional minutes per subject, which Chicago Public Schools honors. 

So why does CPS have the "shortest" school day?  Chicago Public Schools teachers and students have a 20 minute lunch, when other districts typically have 45 minutes.  Chicago teachers take their break at the end of the day, allowing an earlier dismissal.  Therefore, should the day be "extended", that break will be moved from the end of the day to the middle of the day.  The result is no change in instructional time with students.  Students may be given recess during this time. 

In my opinion, the longer school day is intended to keep kids off the street.  Schools can only do so much when it comes to nation accountability.  Teachers are dedicated to their students, but a line must be drawn when it comes to responsibility.  If the neighborhood is not safe then that needs to be addressed (See previous post on Parent Accountability).  After school programs are offered, but many have recently been cut due to budget.  Some financially comfortable schools offer additional pay for teachers to host extra curricular activities.  That seems implausible since CPS just denied their teachers a pay raise.  It appears Mayor Emanuel's solution to keep kids off the street is to have a longer school day by forming the public opinion that Chicago lacks instructional time.

Extra recess leads me to the next concern.  Chicago just denied their teachers a 4% pay increase.  In a letter to his teachers, Mr. Vitale, CPS President, reasons that due to the $5 million deficit, pay increases will only put the district in further debt.  However, if the school day is expanded and the teachers' break is moved to the middle of the day, who will monitor students during this time?  Obviously the district cannot afford aids, especially when paraprofessionals have already been displaced.

Chicago Public Schools are being chastised on many blogs for omitting recess.  While recess plays a vital role in social skills and exercise, many schools are forced to skip recess.  I have had to bring my class inside early because of a shooting and chase in the neighborhood.  Other times, we were unable to use the playground because shredded glass, dirty needles, and filthy diapers littered the play area.   

At this point, a longer school day will extend recess and lunch, NOT instructional time. If teachers are held academically 'accountable', don't expect babysitters.  A longer day should be for instructional/collaboration time...how many of you would offer to work longer hours without supplemental pay?

.

Holding Parents Accountable

Washington Post

Just how much say the public should have in the way people parent is a controversial issue, especially now, amid increasing calls for schools to find ways to hold parents accountable for their involvement in their children’s education. Is there any way to do this fairly?

Today's article asks, "Why aren't parents part of the equation?" Since our students spend 70% of their time outside of school (Michigan Dept. of Edu) this is the million dollar question! 

Parent Teacher Association notes that research shows students with involved parents have:

• Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates
• Type of Involvement
• Better school attendance
• Increased motivation, better self-esteem 􏰀 Although most parents do not know how to help
• their children with their education, with guidance
• and support, they may become increasingly
• Lower rates of suspension
• Decreased use of drugs and alcohol
  When schools encourage children to practice                                                            
  Students with uninvolved parents attend school with baggage like truancy, unfed, behavior issues, or negative attitude toward school personnel.  Our quarterly student report cards state absences and tardies, which I highlight before sending home.  This has little effect.  Since schools are graded on truancy rates, many of these tardies are deleted.  The parents of these children do not look at the report card, let alone sign and return it as requested.
  Consider the majority of children who have had involved parents from early childhood.  As with all children, they have their issues, but for the most part, they are successful emotionally, socially, and academically.  Now look at the children with little to no parent involvement.  Many of these students spend their school days being behaviorally monitored, in the discipline office, and avoided by classmates because they wear the same smelly clothes each day, lack social skills and confidence to maintain relationships.
  
  
  So what about the concept of punishing parents? Some children are just out of control.  What if those children had preschool and the parents attended parenting classes?  Perhaps we'd have less out-of-control children.  The reality is, punishing parents will not likely change the child's behavior.  However, parent involvement is a positive reinforcement for a child craving attention, whether it is positive or negative.  By encouraging parent involvement, we might be pleased with the behavioral outcome in the child.
  Some states find and/or jail parents for their child's truancy.  Florida has a proposed bill establishing a grading systems of parents by teachers.  The grading system is based on three criteria:
  • A child should be at school on time, prepared to learn after a good night's sleep, and have eaten a meal.
  • A child should have the homework done and prepared for examinations.
  • There should be regular communication between the parent and teacher.
  

    

  But what will a grade necessarily do?  Unlike failing schools, parents won't lose their jobs.  A grade is not going to help them see the benefits of reading to their child, checking homework, attending parent-teacher conferences, and volunteering in the classroom.
  

    
  

  Take into consideration that "The strongest and most consistent predictors of parent involvement at school and at home are the specific school programs and teacher practices  that encourage parent involvement at school and guide parents in how to help their children at home." (Dauber and Epstein (11:61).  Many parents do not know how to be involved, and society does not teach a "How to be a proper parent" course.  So it is up to the schools to invite parents in.  Yet at the same time, it is up to society to accept and expect parent involvement. 

  "Parents are the most powerful force on earth. Our laws and policies must take a step toward recognizing that."

This site is about how to get parents involved and create a partnership through the community:

                            http://www.myncap.org/research-and-resources/