The Smaller the Better?   

   Analysts and policymakers have debated for decades whether smaller classes are best for teaching and learning. 

   Parents and teachers are settled on the subject. Parents want their kids to have more one-on-one time with teachers. They in turn have an easier time managing fewer students.

   A few years ago in Florida they mandated class sizes be not larger than 30. Imagine the costs necessary to comply. Was it based on opinions, or evidence?

   A new worldwide study indicates lower student-teacher ratios have few benefits. With 127 studies in 41 different countries there was some improvement in a few cases, while others produced no effect. 

   Students benefited most from small class sizes in reading. In other subjects, those in small classes showed no appreciable advantage.

   Researchers suggest that school systems reconsider their emphasis on more construction and staffing. "Class size reduction is costly," they wrote. "The available evidence points to no or only very small effect. Moreover...small classes may be counterproductive in some subjects."

   Along with Florida, some 24 other states have implemented reductions in student-teacher ratios. Most of them have seen very little improvement in student achievement. 

   Researchers didn't advocate abandoning all class-size reductions, but urged educators to consider where their efforts might do the most good - special cases in individual schools. 

WORLD online