In 2018, teacher ay was at the core of the #RedForEd movement, which resulted in educator walkouts and action by governor Ducey with his 20X2020 plan. Still, other issues underlined the goals of this movement, including augmenting the total school funding and reducing class sizes – both of which would serve to improve the education that students get. But since the state’s education sector is in the middle of a teacher shortage crisis, some argue that it would be challenging to reduce class sizes. But do they understand the challenges posed by managing large classes?
According to Chen (2019), the maximum number of students for grades four through eight – in math, English, science, and social studies – needs to be 28; for fine arts and foreign languages in grades K through eight, however, 33 students should be the maximum; and for grades 9 through 12, 32 and 35 are the maximum numbers depending on the course subject matter.
Currently, Arizona ranks at the bottom in the nation when it comes to teacher-student ratio, considering that there are approximately 23 students for every instructor, which is beyond the national average of 16 to 1 (National Center for Education Statistics, n.d). The outcome could translate to parent and teacher frustration, in addition to fueling education issues such as the present shortage of certified instructors.
Every student deserves an excellent education, every step of the way. The realization of this vision has been vital for the economic prosperity, quality of life, and civic health of the state. Thus, writing this letter accentuates the imperative of proposing an education initiative that involves lowering class sizes by nearly 7 to 10 students, as this poses the likelihood of bringing lasting student benefits, mainly if those efforts are focused in kindergarten through third grade or even eighth grade for schools facing significant socioeconomic challenges.
From an instructor’s perspective, it is nice to have one’s friends in the classroom, but no one wants all of their friends in one class. Besides, the difference between grading 20 6-page essays versus grading 30 essays is unbelievable, especially regarding a teacher’s time expenditure. The ambiguous issue of class size, plus classroom crowding, and the shrinking individual attention highlight the complexity of this issue.
Many people cannot comprehend the duration it takes to grade, for instance, 35 language arts essays in a high-quality manner. An augmented workload and low pay serve as a recipe for disaster. “Many people always think, oh well, teachers only work from 9 to 5, they have weekends, summers and holidays off” (Rodewald, 2018). But what they do not realize is how much work educators usually take home with them.
Classroom management sits at the heart of good learning. Learning only thrives when an educator has fewer kids to manage. Even a plethora of research literature supports the definite relationship between smaller class size and student success. As Woods (2015) posited, an average student assigned to the smallest classes had a reading about 8% higher than students in the medium-sized classes.
There are numerous benefits to small class sizes for both teachers and students. First, it allows for better teacher-student relationships. Individual attention, for a student, can make the difference between coasting along and effectively developing skills. And in a smaller class, students can establish robust relationships with their educators.
Another benefit is that of customized instruction. Every educator understands the imperative for recognizing specific student problems and helping them to be effective. However, in a large class, this may be difficult to achieve, not because a teacher’s instruction is wrong, but because they lack resources to do so. Other additional benefits range from classrooms being more collaborative and in-depth topic exploration.
Education is a constitutional right, given than nearly every country in the world has included the term ‘education’ in its constitution. A considerable percentage guarantee every young one the right to free education, and many have made mandatory, participation in some form of schooling – to the extent of providing universal access to affordable college. However, to ensure that every child gains the most out of their education, it is essential that we considered teacher-student interaction.
I understand that the issue of class sizes is a live policy debate, and teachers’ unions from all over the country – not only in Arizona – are advocating for smaller class sizes. Decreasing class sizes was second only to increased educator salaries. Given that both instructors and the general public are actively supporting the idea of smaller class sizes, I believe it is high time we brought resources together to help address this issue once and for all.
Peer Response
Indeed, the Arizona constitution stands up well to serious examination, stemming from its few shortcomings, unlike most other states’ laws. Having been written before the state entered into statehood, the constitution grants individual rights, separation, and distribution of powers of government, among others (McClory & McClory, 2013). The uniqueness of this state’s constitution stems from several provisions, such as Article 4, which allows the state’s residents to make new laws or amend the constitution through initiatives.