Do folks just not listen to common sense? No wonder people get frustrated....

[The Straight Story]

Analysis: Smaller class sizes, better results

Utah schools that met federal testing goals last year tended to have lower class sizes than those that didn’t, according to a state Office of Education analysis released Friday.

Each year, schools are expected to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on state tests toward the goals of the federal law No Child Left Behind. According to state office data, Utah schools that made AYP last year had lower average class sizes than those that didn’t.

Elementary schools that made AYP had average class sizes of 21.2 students compared with an average of 24.2 students in schools that didn’t. Among secondary schools, those that made AYP had an average class size of 21 students versus 28 students in schools that didn’t. Class size outliers — those with more than 40 students or less than five — were excluded from the analysis.

The data don’t necessarily show that schools met goals or didn’t because of class sizes, but the correlation is “interesting,” said Judy Park, state associate superintendent.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51193425-76/class-sizes-grade-schools.html.csp

I am 45 years old, when I was 6 I could probably have come to this conclusion. The problem we have now is that no one listens, they keep doing the same damned studies and getting the same results, and we keep having to pay for the same thing time and again.

No wonder folks get tired of politics and such - same studies, results we could all predict, and solutions that don't do anything because no one is listening.

---Edited to add this gem:

"For decades, experts have debated whether class size makes a difference academically. "

[HuckleB]

1. K & R.

[Angry Dragon]

2. When you want to change the rules

you run studies until you get the results you want ........

[OHdem10]

3. Debating whether class size influences outcomes????? Did

I misunderstand???? Common Sense tells you that it stands to
reason, any group will have better results and the leader is
more effective if it is a MANAGEABLE SIZE. How can anyone
believe that a teacher can be equally effective with a large
group as a small group. Effective here means the kids actually
learn the materials. In large groups only so many kids can
participate in discussion sessions.

[stevedeshazer]

4. +1 thanks

Good post.

[Kurovski]

5. There are those who don't want a better educated populace.

So they keep pretending to debate it. Same shit with global warming, gay families, and for decades a debate about--of all things--whether ciggies were bad for you or not.

Fuck all the assholes who make money holding back progress. May their children turn away from them, may their genitals turn to sand, and may they never get to eat pizza ever again.

[Hannah Bell]

7. who are you referring to? who do you think is preventing smaller classrooms?

[Kurovski]

8. I have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm talking about debates on issues that are already clear as a bell.

withholding funds would help keep teachers from being hired, to partly answer your question. Underfunding schools. Telling people we have to cut funds and make larger classrooms to make the budget, and anyone who says it's just fine, that says a teacher can teach well with a crowded classroom, that a teacher who doesn't do a bang-up job in a trailor with 30 underfed kids...whoever thinks that's agreat way to save dough and still give a bang-up education. The assholes who think that's fine, i guess they'd be the ones, eh? The ones who convince taxpayers they don't need to kick in an extra $50 a year? Them. I guess.

[Hannah Bell]

10. i asked a simple question, & i have no idea why you have no idea what i'm talking about.

i asked who you thought was preventing small classrooms, as people do indeed have different opinions about this.

all i needed was a simple answer.

[Kurovski]

11. Well, I was just NOT sure what you were asking.

I'm panic stricken, tired and in pain and shouldn't be posting, but I'm an idiot, so...my regrets that I was so jerky. Although I must say my typing skills have seen some improvement tonight.

Don't be a hard-hearted Hannah, now. Forgive a silly old goofball :hi: :)

[Hannah Bell]

12. :>) peace from another goofball.

[Kurovski]

13. Thanks...

have a good night, HB.

[Hannah Bell]

14. ditto.

[Hannah Bell]

6. bill gates said class size doesn't matter, & he's in charge of education policy.

what don't you get?

testing is the thing. we need more tests & we need to test everything. bill gates will develop the tests & take a cut on each one.

because measuring things always makes them better.

then when the kids don't measure up we need to fire their teachers & school them on computers run by a $12/hr lab monitor with no benefits.

bill gates will develop all the teaching modules, just like he developed the "core standards" which say that "Little Women" is a great book for urban 8th-grade gang-bangers.

that's the future of us education unless you have money.

[jtuck004]

9. Maybe that's not always the case?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/education/28school.html