Class Size and Composition Amelia Brown, period 4
The Problem
Data from the Program for International Student Assessment of 15 year olds in 65 different countries. Originally published in Business Insider to look at the validity of GOP candidate, Donald Trump.
Why it's happening
Los Angeles has increased the average size of its ninth-grade English and math classes to 34 from 20. Eleventh- and 12th-grade classes in those two subjects have risen, on average, to 43 students." - Sam dillon, New york times, 2011
http://thesocialpoets.blogspot.com/2010/08/america-and-world-politics-cartoons-14.html, https://idanlandau.com/page/9/?blogsub=confirming, http://ipolitics.ca/2013/09/24/mayes-underfunded-schools/
The Solution
A DECREASE IN CLASS SIZE BY EIGHT STUDENTS INCREASES THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL WITH APPROXIMATELY 3% OF THE STANDARD DEVIATION IN TEST PERFORMANCE." - HANS BONESRĂNNING AND JON MARIUS VAAG IVERSEN
18 students
More funding towards class size reduction
The Benefits
But wait. There's more
Why it's happening
Academically advanced students are more participatory and are more likely to control class discussions to meet their intellectual needs[...]As a result, lower academic ability may exacerbate developmental student self-doubt and insecurities, based primarily on fear of being viewed as unintelligent." - Moss et al.
The Solution
The Benefits
instructors accommodate to meet the average level of class ability" - moss et al.
Overall
Smaller class sizes composed mainly of like-abled students benefit the greatest majority, and more school funds should go towards reducing class sizes and tracking to give students a better education.
works cited: Dillon, Sam. "Tight Budgets Mean Squeeze in Classrooms." The New York Times 7 Mar. 2011, A1 sec.: n. pag. NY Times. The New York Times, 6 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
Iversen Vaag Marius Jon, and Hans Bonesrønning. "Disadvantaged Students in the Early Grades: Will Smaller Classes Help Them?" Education Economics 21.4 (2013): 305-24. Professional Development Collection. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
Moss, Brian G., Ben Kelcey, and Nancy Showers. "Does Classroom Composition Matter? College Classrooms as Moderators of Developmental Education Effectiveness." Community College Review 42.3 (2014): 201-20. ERIC. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
Scrofani, David. Personal interview. 24 Mar. 2016.
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