Does Class Size Matter? Class size has been an ongoing issue for educators and children’s education. It makes a tremendous impact on how the student learns. Along with many other things, there is more to the number of students in class than most people think. The quality one on one time is affected. Along with that, important questions that the students need clarity on from the teacher might not be able to be answered because so many other students are in the room asking their own questions. Students learn in their own ways. Teachers have to be flexible in how their students learn, and in order to do that, they need to know their students on a personal level. When class sizes are large, it negatively affects students in their learning. It is hard to know each one of your students on a personal level. If all of our students came to us from stable, supportive families, maybe we could manage a class of 30. The reality is that these kids come from various backgrounds and often require needs outside of education to be met before they can learn. We are expected to be experts in many fields and give each child exactly what they need. With a class of 25, we can probably give each student about 7 minutes, but then we would have to ignore them for the rest of the day and forget about teaching anything!
This is a problem because many students can’t work independently and need assistance and clarification at every step. Many have ADHD and other disorders that make it hard for them to focus and not act out. It makes the classroom very difficult to control when several students literally cannot help it. There are times when there are 28-35 students in each room. I experienced this growing up, and anyone who thinks that 32 students per teacher is okay should be put in a classroom with 32 students and left there for six hours. We are on top of each other all day long, no matter what room we are in, and when we are permitted to talk in group or partner work, the volume in the class then becomes an issue. The teachers somehow managed to grade essays, exams, etc, for classes this size. In a classroom with a smaller class size, a teacher can give more attention to their students and provide a more personalized learning environment.
Does it impact student achievement? Maybe, maybe not, but what small class sizes do is creates a learning environment that is student-centered and student-focused. Matthew M. Chingos and Grover J. Whitehurst (2011)discuss a study of CSR, the Student Teacher Achievement Ratio, or STAR, which is a study that was conducted in Tennessee during the late 1980s. Stated, “students and teachers were randomly assigned to a small class, with an average of 15 students, or a regular class, with an average of 22 students. This large reduction in class size (7 students, or 32 percent) was found to increase student achievement ” (Chingos & Whitehurst, 2011). This is why class sizes matter. There are other benefits to smaller class sizes: fewer behavior problems, fewer distractions, better classroom community, more room in classrooms, and much more.
A recent article by Lola Fadulu (2022) states, “the New York State lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that would require the city to reduce the number of students in each classroom across the nation’s largest public school system. The bill reignited a half-century-old debate that pitted teachers and parents who believe smaller class sizes are better for children against city officials, who point to evidence suggesting better and more cost-effective ways to improve education.” The teachers want to make a difference in every child’s life, but with budget cuts that include fewer teachers, a lack of resources, and dilapidated buildings, the job gets more difficult every year. But Lola Fadulu (2022) states, “The federal pandemic aid will run out, but union officials suggested it could be used to begin hiring teachers to reduce class sizes. They suggested that state funding for city schools, which officials had promised to increase, could maintain the program.” I’m glad to see they are suggesting hiring more teachers because teachers are a resource that is constantly overlooked, or not prioritized, in planning for school funding.
The bottom line is that smaller class sizes benefit students overall. It provides a better learning environment and allows teachers to provide a personalized education for each student. As a teacher, I want smaller class sizes to provide my students with the best, most personalized education possible. It is not fair for students when their classroom is so full that they get pushed out, forgotten, or not considered important. The reality is that the push to help low-performing students and offer differentiated instruction differentiating for students on (IEPs)large class sizes means some students will not be considered, which is not good. Every student should be considered, but in all honesty, large class sizes do not make that a reality.
We need to push for the best education for all students, and one way we can start is by decreasing class sizes to give students the attention and support they need and deserve. In the long run, education is not about test scores. Education is about providing a student-centered learning environment that is student-centered, supports students’ passions and needs, and inspires students to be their best selves.
References
Chingos, M.M., &and Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst, G.J. (Wednesday, May 11, 2011), Class size: What research says and what it means for state policy https://www.brookings.edu/research/class-size-what-research-says-and-what-it-means-for-state-policy/
Fadulu, L. (June 3, 2022), Class sizes set to shrink in New York City schools, but at what cost? https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/nyregion/nyc-schools-class-sizes.html
VOICES OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS 
I think the topic you addressed in your blog is really interesting and not something most would talk about. I think it is true that size matters and a big classroom can affect a child’s learning experience. I especially liked when you said “If all of our students came to us from stable, supportive families, maybe we could manage a class of 30”. I think this is something important and thoughtful to say because it is true that all students have different home situations and when one student acts up due to feeling pressures at home it not only affects them, but other students’ learning experience. Teachers are meant to look after their students but there is only so much a teacher can do with thirty or so children. In the fieldwork classroom I am, many students have different needs and are trying to get their teacher’s attention but it is pretty difficult for her to be listening to every student and on top of that directing a whole classroom. I think you made a well elaborated argument on the so many ways classroom size affects students.
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The student-to-teacher ratio definitely impacts social and emotional development as well as academic progress. Having less students in the classroom not only takes away management pressure from teachers but they are able to understand and communicate with children more effectively. By giving children the opportunity to connect with teachers on a more personal level, the children feel more comfortable with learning from them. I love that you emphasized the importance of meeting individual needs rather than test scores. Each goal should be personalized based on the child’s current academic level instead of expecting high grades.
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I totally understand why you would prefer to have a smaller class size when you become a teacher. You do a good job here of listing many of the reasons that smaller classes are preferable. As you mention, New York State passed a resolution this year to limit class sizes to 20 students in K-3 classrooms and 23 in 4-8 classrooms. Of course, what is an excellent idea on paper can be difficult to implement in real life! Now, more teachers, staff, school buildings, school buses, etc. will be needed. It will be interesting to follow the implementation of this new law as it unfolds. I hope that it ends up creating a more positive environment for teaching and learning by the time you, and others coming up with you, are ready for your own classrooms.
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This is one of my biggest concerns every new school year or when I place my daughters in a new public school. I feel like when the class size is to large the teacher does not get enough time to get to know the students and to answer their concerns. Being amongst a lot of students can also be terrifying for students who are not use to a large setting especially when they have a learning disability. But class size becomes a problem when the teacher can not attend to all the students or can’t finish the day’s lessons. I strongly agree with you on this line that smaller class sizes provide a better learning environment.
“It provides a better learning environment and allows teachers to provide a personalized education for each student.”
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