Larger Class Size is Bad, It's Elementary
Years ago, when I was an associate producer at a cable news station, I worked with someone who can best be described as, well, a jerk. Once, another hour’s show found themselves short staffed. That show’s producer asked us if they could use one of our reporters. “No. Sorry.” Said my not-so-pleasant co-worker. I turned to him later and asked, “We’re not even using him today for his report. Why wouldn’t you lend him out?” “Because,” he explained, “once you say it’s ok to take something from you, you’ll never get anything back.” Looking back on that now, in light of the school board’s plans to increase the class size in the elementary schools, I think the jerk may be right.
Let me explain where I’m coming from: My oldest will be entering elementary school in the fall here in Scarsdale. I am beyond excited. I don’t consider myself a particularly high maintenance mom. My daughter was in daycare for 2 years before going to nursery school. I believe in full day kindergarten, a friend’s sniffle has never caused me to cancel a play date and while she has plenty of activities and structure in her day, the TV is on more than I care to admit. My daughter is outgoing and independent and bright. Adding to the class size may not cause her to get lost in the shuffle. It still doesn’t make it right.
I know the argument. Increasing the cap on class size does not necessarily mean that the class will be that large. Times are tight, tough decisions need to be made. Every school district in the country is making cuts like these and worse. Live within our means. Tighten our belt. I get it, I get it. Then cut somewhere else. You may be reading and say, yeah she cares because it will affect her kids. Maybe so, but this will have some impact on all Scarsdale residents, even if it means more teachers at the high school.
The Students:
Lets all agree that smaller class sizes make for better education. You can split hairs and say what’s the difference between 22 and 23 or 23 and 24, but what we are seeing is a trend. Even if your child has the greatest teacher on earth, less individual time with that teacher weakens the teacher-student relationship. Think about the shy kid who would have found his or her voice in a smaller class. And there are plenty of kids who struggle with subjects who need more one on one time to figure it out. Will they just be pushed along with the tide? Will we shrug and say, well, someone has to get a C, or math isn’t for everyone? That’s a shame because the student will never fully realize his or her potential. Those early years are important and we’d be selling kids short.
Yes, Scarsdale High School is amazing in terms of class offerings and education. To be clear, increasing the elementary class size by one will allow for more high school teachers. It won’t do a whole lot of good if we have a larger percentage of students coming in to high school apathetic or not having mastered the basics.
Larger class size: Bad idea.
The Teachers:
I know that it’s becoming a national pastime to criticize teachers and gripe about how good they have it. Not me. It is a demanding job mentally, physically and emotionally. The argument that they get their summers off and are done by 3pm every day just doesn’t hold water for me. Many take summer jobs working with kids and nearly all work through the evening on lesson plans and grading papers. That is far more labor intensive than checking your Blackberry or getting on a conference call early with Asia.
Now, the elementary school teachers here have the prospect of teaching bigger classes. This changes how they may teach, will lead to more interruptions during the lesson and probably lead to more stress. Personally, I would like my kids’ teachers not to be stressed out.
And for the commenters on this site who argue that the teachers in Scarsdale get paid too much, who then, should be paid well? Major League Baseball players? CEOs? Pray tell.
Our Homes:
Even if you don’t have kids in the schools here you should care about this. The value of your home will go down because of this. Your taxes thankfully will stay the same, or go up. Think of this like having your home by power lines. You may have the most beautiful home with the newest kitchen but if you have those pesky power-lines in sight, that’s what people will remember. Having Mandarin in the high school is terrific, I completely agree. Having nearly 100% of graduating seniors go on to college is a wonderful thing. Most people move here with young children. They care in the short term about elementary schools. They will see that class sizes are larger and may go somewhere else. Suddenly Scarsdale doesn’t seem so special and the taxes don’t seem remotely worth it. Larger class size: Bad idea.
About that Jerk:
Getting back to the story in the beginning and my co-worker’s point about once you say it’s ok to take something, people think you never needed it in the first place. So, if we concede on this because times are hard, or because it makes for more teachers in the high school we won’t get smaller classes back even if times are good. Then what’s next? Art? Music? Sports? This erodes the fabric of what this school district is based on. I appreciate that the Board is in a tough position right now. There is nothing, in my opinion, more overwhelming than working on a budget of taxpayer dollars. No one will be happy ever with whatever they come up with. But this is the wrong plan. This chips at the foundation of our schools, undermines our kids and is unfair to our teachers. No one moved here or lives here for that.
Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.
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written by Parent who doesn't (necessarily) agree, April 07, 2011
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written by Resident, March 09, 2011
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written by Scarsdale Dad, March 07, 2011
Scarsdale is being squeezed by unfunded state mandates, a spate of real estate assessment challenges and the legacy of our own poor management of salaries, health and other benefits and retirement programs for our municipal workers including, but not limited to, teachers. Did I read correctly a few months back that the Village Manager said that taxes have risen 30% over the past 10 years in real (i.e., inflation-adjusted) terms? Does anyone living here feel that the level or quality of services provided has increased by 30% over the past decade? I would guess not.
My suggestion to parents concerned about limiting class size or about Johnny not learning Mandarin is to offer a realistic way to accomplish these goals rather than simply laying down a slate of complaints. Perhaps tonight someone might suggest that we bring in a few new elementary school teachers who pay a much higher % of their own health insurance costs than do current staff, and are offered 401K matches for their retirement plans rather than defined benefit plans. Offer reduced salaries as well for new entrants -- Scarsdale should be able to attract better teachers at a lower cost than do other communities given the safety of our schools, the motivation and intelligence of our students and the active involvement of our parents. Also, the market for teachers is clearly a buyers market today. As older teachers leave, our costs of instruction will fall through this attrition of the higher-compensated staff.
If lower class size is truly more important for our kid's development than is offering Mandarin in the High School (and it may well be), perhaps these concerned parents might suggest that the High School look for a community volunteer or two to teach Mandarin three hours a week to interested students as an academic club. We are a village of volunteers, and it's likely that more than one would step into this role freeing up resources for an elementary school teacher.
Perhaps none of these is workable, but neither is a simple rant about how "bad" is larger class size. Our challenge as citizens living in a world of scarcity is to help make active choices that benefit the community, and not to simply and childishly say. "I'll take more of everything".
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written by Concerned Resident, March 04, 2011
Please attend the Board of Education, on Monday March 7th. 8:00 PM at SHS, Room 170-172.
You CAN make a difference on this issue!
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written by Edgewood Mom, March 04, 2011
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written by Teacher in Training, March 04, 2011
Everyone realizes that inclusion is so apparent in every classroom today. More and more students with special needs are in every classroom, and while yes, they receive additional help, the general education teacher must work hard to balance a lesson for every child. More students in the classroom will, most definitely, take time away from one-to-one help for everyone.
For those of you that may have mentioned that statistics show there is no correlation between 23 or 24 students in a classroom, well, I am sorry, but I beg to differ. As I am currently enrolled in a Master's Degree for teaching, I have learned a lot of statistics over the past few months- and all of them show a definite difference in the number of students learning in a classroom with fewer students.
And please, do not blame the teachers for being "lazy" and not wanting to teach more students.
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written by Yesteryear vs. today, March 04, 2011
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written by Julie Rosenblatt, March 04, 2011
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written by Kathie, March 04, 2011
and the high school. I was part of the beginning of the baby boom and class sizes were huge; buildings and teacher hiring couldn't keep up with the growing numbers of students. The difference between then and now is that students then respected their teachers and their parents and knew better than to cause disruption in the classroom that would impact anyone else's learning. If we got into trouble in school, we were in worse trouble by the time we got home. While most of us can recall one or two students who today would be diagnosed with dyslexia or other learning disabilities, hyperactivity (ADHD today) was valued and the norm for most children. We had recess twice a day, gym every day through high school (mostly consisting of calisthenics), most of us didn't yet have televisions and, if we did, nothing came on much before dinnertime. We climbed trees without supervision, made paths in the woods, rode bikes on busy streets with no helmets, walked a mile or more to school without realizing we should complain about it.
Okay, enough reminiscing but -- please-- larger class sizes are the least of your worries in today's world. Teach and expect your children to value what they have, to respect those who gift them with education, to ask for help when they need it, and to comport themselves with self-respect. When you as parents have done your job, class size will not impact them negatively.
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written by Tired of Tax Reactionaries, March 03, 2011
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written by Our choices count, March 03, 2011
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written by edgewood parent, March 03, 2011
So for the teachers in elementary schools their very tough job gets tougher immediately. I then see in the future a generation of children that are potentially ill-equipped for the demands of high school. So then these extra teachers have extra pressure to play catch up for what was lost in the elementary schools.
So really can it be worth it? Is this the time to be adding extras in one area when really we need to maintain the amazing system we have now and for the future.
Bigger Classes - definately a bad idea.
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written by Disappointed in Jeff Blatt, March 03, 2011
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written by Andrew, March 03, 2011
A group within Scarsdale has mobilized hundreds of parents in favor of continuing the cap. Thank you to all that are part of this movement. We need an organized, strong last push from everyone for the BoE meeting.
How you can help:
1) SHOW UP! Board of Education Meeting, March 7th, 8 pm, SHS Room 170-172. A large turnout of concerned parents will represent our commitment and increase the chance to keep our caps. A strong presence is VERY important.
2) PASS IT ON! Get out friends and neighbors by sending out word, bringing them to the March 7th meeting and talking it up over the next few days.
3) SIGN UP! Tell us that you'll be at the BoE meeting to help organize our response (Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
4) CLICK IN! Join the hundreds of Scarsdale parents on our petition on www.coalitionforscarsdaleschools.org. If your spouse or friend hasn't signed the petition, have them Click In, too.
YOU CAN make the difference to SAVE our ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS SIZES.
WE NEED EVERY CONCERNED PARENT TO ATTEND TO REINFORCE OUR MESSAGE TO THE BoE
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