VOL. XV, NO. 1
SEPTEMBER 28, 1973
'It's a Zoo!'
Class Size Increases: Early Dismissal Blamed
Class Size Increases: Early Dismissal Blamed
By PAT LAUTEN
"This isn't a classroom; this is a zoo!" This became a familiar lament for many teachers as they suddenly found themselves confronted by a room of 40 students on the first day of school. It seems that every year the number of students increases until it has reached almost unbearable proportions, both for teacher and student.
This increase can be attributed to many factors, but one of the more important ones is early dismissal. Early dismissal is great for students who can't wait to leave school, but it forces the school to compact an otherwise large schedule into several hours of school time resulting in one class of 40 students and another of nine. If you stop and think, how many kids have classes ninth period or even eighth? Not many.
In a classroom of 36 students or more, it becomes a job just to keep everyone quiet and more of a job trying to teach. This is not to say that in every classroom students are hanging from the walls, but when the everyday sound of one person fidgeting in his seat is magnified 36 or 40 times, it can become unbearable.
"This isn't a classroom; this is a zoo!" This became a familiar lament for many teachers as they suddenly found themselves confronted by a room of 40 students on the first day of school. It seems that every year the number of students increases until it has reached almost unbearable proportions, both for teacher and student.
This increase can be attributed to many factors, but one of the more important ones is early dismissal. Early dismissal is great for students who can't wait to leave school, but it forces the school to compact an otherwise large schedule into several hours of school time resulting in one class of 40 students and another of nine. If you stop and think, how many kids have classes ninth period or even eighth? Not many.
In a classroom of 36 students or more, it becomes a job just to keep everyone quiet and more of a job trying to teach. This is not to say that in every classroom students are hanging from the walls, but when the everyday sound of one person fidgeting in his seat is magnified 36 or 40 times, it can become unbearable.
Teachers find it extremely difficult to teach in such a situation since almost all rapport between teacher and student is lost. In a classroom of 36 or 40 students class discussion, which is very important in an English or history class, is limited for the simple reason that not everyone can possibly voice his opinion on a subject in 40 minutes.
Also, students have a tendency to get lost in the shuffle in such a big class. It's a shame that more students couldn't give up 40 minutes of "freedom" to go into eighth or ninth period classes.
Not only would it improve the ratio of teachers and students, but it would also give students a chance to learn a lot more. When you think about it, 40 minutes doesn't seem like such a long time, does it?
Also, students have a tendency to get lost in the shuffle in such a big class. It's a shame that more students couldn't give up 40 minutes of "freedom" to go into eighth or ninth period classes.
Not only would it improve the ratio of teachers and students, but it would also give students a chance to learn a lot more. When you think about it, 40 minutes doesn't seem like such a long time, does it?