every student comes across a school year that is more challenging than others for
that is more challenging than others for
that is more challenging than others for some is junior year and for others it’s
some is junior year and for others it’s
some is junior year and for others it’s freshman for me it just so happened to
freshman for me it just so happened to
freshman for me it just so happened to be the eighth grade between juggling
be the eighth grade between juggling
be the eighth grade between juggling school friends and extracurricular
school friends and extracurricular
school friends and extracurricular activities I was stressed out the last
activities I was stressed out the last
activities I was stressed out the last thing that I needed was another rigorous
thing that I needed was another rigorous
thing that I needed was another rigorous math course luckily I was surprised to
math course luckily I was surprised to
math course luckily I was surprised to find out that my math class only had 13
find out that my math class only had 13
find out that my math class only had 13 kids in it this made it about half the
kids in it this made it about half the
kids in it this made it about half the size of what I was used to now algebra
size of what I was used to now algebra
size of what I was used to now algebra is far from my strongest subject but for
is far from my strongest subject but for
is far from my strongest subject but for some reason I didn’t recently well in
some reason I didn’t recently well in
some reason I didn’t recently well in this class as the year went on I did
this class as the year went on I did
this class as the year went on I did better and better so I started to think
better and better so I started to think
better and better so I started to think to myself why am i doing well in this
to myself why am i doing well in this
to myself why am i doing well in this class I’m not that good at math
class I’m not that good at math
class I’m not that good at math ultimately I decided it was because of a
ultimately I decided it was because of a
ultimately I decided it was because of a small class size in the United States
small class size in the United States
small class size in the United States the average class size in a primary
the average class size in a primary
the average class size in a primary school
school
school is 23 students and in a secondary school
is 23 students and in a secondary school
is 23 students and in a secondary school there’s 24 students this can be quite
there’s 24 students this can be quite
there’s 24 students this can be quite problematic especially in younger grades
problematic especially in younger grades
problematic especially in younger grades imagine 23 highly energetic somewhat
imagine 23 highly energetic somewhat
imagine 23 highly energetic somewhat disobedient third graders all in one
disobedient third graders all in one
disobedient third graders all in one room with one teacher responsible for
room with one teacher responsible for
room with one teacher responsible for all of them that’s not very efficient
all of them that’s not very efficient
all of them that’s not very efficient how can a teacher effectively control an
how can a teacher effectively control an
how can a teacher effectively control an environment like that while still –
environment like that while still –
environment like that while still – while still teaching the best of his or
while still teaching the best of his or
while still teaching the best of his or her ability it’s quite tricky to do and
her ability it’s quite tricky to do and
her ability it’s quite tricky to do and oftentimes ends up in one big mess with
oftentimes ends up in one big mess with
oftentimes ends up in one big mess with a teacher who is not sure what to do in
a teacher who is not sure what to do in
a teacher who is not sure what to do in a whole slew of angry parents projects
a whole slew of angry parents projects
a whole slew of angry parents projects such as Tennessee Star and Wisconsin
such as Tennessee Star and Wisconsin
such as Tennessee Star and Wisconsin sage have explored the effects of small
sage have explored the effects of small
sage have explored the effects of small class sizes over long periods of time
class sizes over long periods of time
class sizes over long periods of time the results were astounding according to
the results were astounding according to
the results were astounding according to these projects students in smaller
these projects students in smaller
these projects students in smaller classes finished two months ahead in
classes finished two months ahead in
classes finished two months ahead in reading and finished roughly 7% higher
reading and finished roughly 7% higher
reading and finished roughly 7% higher on standardized reading and math tests
on standardized reading and math tests
on standardized reading and math tests quite simply in younger grades smaller
quite simply in younger grades smaller
quite simply in younger grades smaller class sizes allow for students to do
class sizes allow for students to do
class sizes allow for students to do much better the reduction of class size
much better the reduction of class size
much better the reduction of class size could really boost education according
could really boost education according
could really boost education according to Tennessee project star students in a
to Tennessee project star students in a
to Tennessee project star students in a reduce class size for at least three
reduce class size for at least three
reduce class size for at least three years were more likely to graduate
years were more likely to graduate
years were more likely to graduate furthermore the gap between white and
furthermore the gap between white and
furthermore the gap between white and black students taking the ACP
black students taking the ACP
black students taking the ACP and SAT is close by 60% reduce classes
and SAT is close by 60% reduce classes
and SAT is close by 60% reduce classes will lead to more students graduating
will lead to more students graduating
will lead to more students graduating high school and then attending college
high school and then attending college
high school and then attending college for a lot of reasons many students are
for a lot of reasons many students are
for a lot of reasons many students are at a disadvantage in the terms of the
at a disadvantage in the terms of the
at a disadvantage in the terms of the quality of their education but I believe
quality of their education but I believe
quality of their education but I believe that this can be made up forth through
that this can be made up forth through
that this can be made up forth through smaller classes smaller class sizes is
smaller classes smaller class sizes is
smaller classes smaller class sizes is generally regarded as a benefit to
generally regarded as a benefit to
generally regarded as a benefit to students and teachers both but John
students and teachers both but John
students and teachers both but John Hattie one of the most respected
Hattie one of the most respected
Hattie one of the most respected researchers in all of Education
researchers in all of Education
researchers in all of Education disagrees with this and his effect size
disagrees with this and his effect size
disagrees with this and his effect size index for student achievement he ranks
index for student achievement he ranks
index for student achievement he ranks smaller classes as a hundred forty-seven
smaller classes as a hundred forty-seven
smaller classes as a hundred forty-seven out of a hundred ninety-five although he
out of a hundred ninety-five although he
out of a hundred ninety-five although he may argue this he also says that things
may argue this he also says that things
may argue this he also says that things such as the quality of feedback and
such as the quality of feedback and
such as the quality of feedback and student-teacher relationships play a
student-teacher relationships play a
student-teacher relationships play a large role in student achievement
large role in student achievement
large role in student achievement doesn’t it reduce class size allow for
doesn’t it reduce class size allow for
doesn’t it reduce class size allow for things like this play a larger role
things like this play a larger role
things like this play a larger role though with less peers in a classroom a
though with less peers in a classroom a
though with less peers in a classroom a student can build a stronger
student can build a stronger
student can build a stronger relationship with a teacher or spend
relationship with a teacher or spend
relationship with a teacher or spend more one-on-one time with that teacher
more one-on-one time with that teacher
more one-on-one time with that teacher this year I’ve been in a class with 28
this year I’ve been in a class with 28
this year I’ve been in a class with 28 students I felt disconnected with my
students I felt disconnected with my
students I felt disconnected with my teacher it is so much harder to enrich
teacher it is so much harder to enrich
teacher it is so much harder to enrich my education in such a large class I
my education in such a large class I
my education in such a large class I almost feel scared to speak to a teacher
almost feel scared to speak to a teacher
almost feel scared to speak to a teacher that I don’t know that well and in front
that I don’t know that well and in front
that I don’t know that well and in front of peers that I’m not very familiar with
of peers that I’m not very familiar with
of peers that I’m not very familiar with either I’ve been left wondering is my
either I’ve been left wondering is my
either I’ve been left wondering is my education being restricted in such a
education being restricted in such a
education being restricted in such a large class sure I still do fairly well
large class sure I still do fairly well
large class sure I still do fairly well in this class but I think that I could
in this class but I think that I could
in this class but I think that I could do so much better if the class size was
do so much better if the class size was
do so much better if the class size was cut in half
cut in half
cut in half all those smaller classes may be a
all those smaller classes may be a
all those smaller classes may be a solution to weak relationships poor
solution to weak relationships poor
solution to weak relationships poor depth of knowledge and lack of student
depth of knowledge and lack of student
depth of knowledge and lack of student involvement there is one main problem
involvement there is one main problem
involvement there is one main problem behind this education reform and that is
behind this education reform and that is
behind this education reform and that is its cost it would take billions of
its cost it would take billions of
its cost it would take billions of dollars to almost double our number of
dollars to almost double our number of
dollars to almost double our number of teachers and infrastructure so it comes
teachers and infrastructure so it comes
teachers and infrastructure so it comes down to one thing it’s where our
down to one thing it’s where our
down to one thing it’s where our government and our schools put their
government and our schools put their
government and our schools put their money its aren’t it’s our nation’s
money its aren’t it’s our nation’s
money its aren’t it’s our nation’s budget that prevents us from reducing
budget that prevents us from reducing
budget that prevents us from reducing class sizes but still we need to find
class sizes but still we need to find
class sizes but still we need to find ways to fund this many believe that
ways to fund this many believe that
ways to fund this many believe that reducing class sizes is a very smart
reducing class sizes is a very smart
reducing class sizes is a very smart decision but it is just way too
decision but it is just way too
decision but it is just way too expensive but if it is so impossible
expensive but if it is so impossible
expensive but if it is so impossible then why did the state of
then why did the state of
then why did the state of just pass a bill requiring all K through
just pass a bill requiring all K through
just pass a bill requiring all K through 12 classrooms to have under 18 students
12 classrooms to have under 18 students
12 classrooms to have under 18 students other states can follow Washington’s
other states can follow Washington’s
other states can follow Washington’s measure to take one big step to better
measure to take one big step to better
measure to take one big step to better our education this will especially help
our education this will especially help
our education this will especially help in states like my own in terms of
in states like my own in terms of
in states like my own in terms of standardized test scores and graduation
standardized test scores and graduation
standardized test scores and graduation rates Alabama is one of the lowest
rates Alabama is one of the lowest
rates Alabama is one of the lowest ranking in the whole entire country
ranking in the whole entire country
ranking in the whole entire country these students my neighbors deserve a
these students my neighbors deserve a
these students my neighbors deserve a better education in smaller class sizes
better education in smaller class sizes
better education in smaller class sizes will provide that for us in the long run
will provide that for us in the long run
will provide that for us in the long run it will be worth it I’ve studies show
it will be worth it I’ve studies show
it will be worth it I’ve studies show graduation rates improve when class size
graduation rates improve when class size
graduation rates improve when class size reduction is put into action
reduction is put into action
reduction is put into action let’s help students across the country
let’s help students across the country
let’s help students across the country by lowering our class sizes so that we
by lowering our class sizes so that we
by lowering our class sizes so that we can so that they can do better in school
can so that they can do better in school
can so that they can do better in school which we all know will set themselves up
which we all know will set themselves up
which we all know will set themselves up for success later in life claw sized
for success later in life claw sized
for success later in life claw sized restricts our education students simply
restricts our education students simply
restricts our education students simply can’t grow to their full extent well
can’t grow to their full extent well
can’t grow to their full extent well they don’t have a strong relationship
they don’t have a strong relationship
they don’t have a strong relationship with the teacher or with other peers in
with the teacher or with other peers in
with the teacher or with other peers in the classroom when I was in that class
the classroom when I was in that class
the classroom when I was in that class of 13 students learning became more
of 13 students learning became more
of 13 students learning became more accessible but now that I’m crammed in
accessible but now that I’m crammed in
accessible but now that I’m crammed in with 28 other students my classroom
with 28 other students my classroom
with 28 other students my classroom experience becomes degraded it’s smaller
experience becomes degraded it’s smaller
experience becomes degraded it’s smaller classes that will give kids an upper
classes that will give kids an upper
classes that will give kids an upper hand and if you don’t believe me go ask
hand and if you don’t believe me go ask
hand and if you don’t believe me go ask any other student about this I can
any other student about this I can
any other student about this I can confidently say that they will agree
confidently say that they will agree
confidently say that they will agree with thing if class sizes were smaller
with thing if class sizes were smaller
with thing if class sizes were smaller you wouldn’t just see the difference in
you wouldn’t just see the difference in
you wouldn’t just see the difference in the results of our test scores you would
the results of our test scores you would
the results of our test scores you would see it on our whole outlook on education
see it on our whole outlook on education
see it on our whole outlook on education teachers will be talking to us
teachers will be talking to us
teachers will be talking to us one-on-one or maybe in small groups but
one-on-one or maybe in small groups but
one-on-one or maybe in small groups but they will not be looking across the
they will not be looking across the
they will not be looking across the class of 30 faces they’ll never come to
class of 30 faces they’ll never come to
class of 30 faces they’ll never come to now thank you
”
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