Smaller Classes Are Better Than Small Schools

Of the educational reform proposals mentioned in this chapter, I think the most effective one is creating smaller classes. I think this is most effective for students but it is not necessarily the most cost effective one. The value of the education will outweigh cost but I doubt taxpayers would agree. Smaller class sizes would help students immensely. They allow for teachers to spend more time on students who may need extra help. Smaller groups can also mean fewer disruptions from students which equate to the teachers being able to cover more material or spend more time on concepts their students don't fully understand. My school has a lot of exchange students mostly from China and Korea, which are leading in education and one of the big differences I know of is that after school is over students go to private touters who teach four or five children instead of a large group. …show more content…
This smaller tutoring group allows them to cover more material in a one-on-one setting. I think this practice of smaller class sizes would be extremely effective for students. The cost to do this though is pricey. Smaller classes mean there's a need for more teachers, supplies, and classrooms. These needs would have to be paid for by the taxpayers and since they already don't like paying for public schools I could see how getting increased funding could be difficult. One solution not mentioned in the book but I believe is worth mentioning because it has done well in Finland, whose education system is among the best in the world, is having shorter school days, less homework, and encouraging teamwork among students instead of competition. They have had impressive results with these practices and it's at no financial cost which allows them to pay their teacher