Monday, January 31, 2011

Keep the 22:1 Class-Size Limit

Keep the 22:1 Class-Size Limit

Debunking 7 common class-size myths

This is a lot to digest, but Leonie Haimson, executive director of the nonprofit Class Size Matters, does a great job of picking apart the myths that seek to belittle smaller class sizes for a guest column in the Washington Post’s Answer Sheet.

Haimson knows her stuff and the basis for her myth busting is well documented. Not to mention she has a knack for pointing out the absurdity of class-size detractors:

…Justin Snider, who teaches an introductory writing class at Columbia University…claimed that class-size reduction programs in California and Florida now “look foolish” and are a “luxury ….we can no longer afford.”

Interestingly, Mr. Snider failed to mention that the writing class he teaches at Columbia is capped at no more than 15 students. Harvard College