Decreasing Classroom Sizes

I am a full advocate for decreasing classroom sizes despite what some scholars and politicians say about it not making a difference to the levels of achievement of students. In my opinion, they have not done enough research in schools to disagree that classroom size truly influences the achievement of students, especially the underrepresented population. The Tennessee STAR program is a great example of an experiment done with efficiency. Their findings indicated that if you decreased the classroom size to a small enough number then the success of students increased dramatically. It was important to begin in the early classrooms (K-1) because the standards of behavior will start to form, students receive the attention they need to succeed, there is a higher morale among teachers and students, and students are forming their attitudes about school culture. All of these reasons are important factors to effectively impact vulnerable students before they form the wrong impressions of their schooling.

If the Tennessee STAR program was so successful then why haven't we done anything about it? Where are our policy changes? Easy answer: money. Districts would need to hire more [qualified] teachers. With the lack of education funds from the federal government, it makes it nearly impossible for schools across the nation to decrease their classroom sizes (especially in the big cities) while figuring out budgeting/logistical problems that come alongside this program. Again, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. How do we change and challenge the government to see that smaller classroom sizes, in the early grades and continuing until the 12th grade, make a difference? When does it stop being a political debate between conservatives and liberals and start becoming an issue of social justice? Students are deprived of their academic rights to succeed at their highest potential. If smaller classroom sizes can help solve the achievement gap then why hasn't the government answered the call?

These students who were involved in the Tennessee STAR program progressed through school as high achievers and more likely than their counterpart (students in bigger classrooms) to attend college. I could extend this further and presume that those attending college are defying statistics and breaking stereotypes that are often placed on them. It's important to look at both the educational and social results of decreased classroom sizes. These students are encouraged to move forward and are not as exposed to the barriers preventing them from mobilizing up the social ladder.