What’s your choice?
a) Larger class sizes with less teachers as a result of layoffs or
b) Prevent teacher layoffs and cut extra-curricular activities instead
A recent article in USA Today outlined this battle that many states, districts and schools are facing right now. It got me thinking about my elementary school days and quite frankly I couldn’t tell you if there were 15 or 30 kids in my classes…so class size obviously didn’t make an impression on me at all.
You can find studies on either side of the class size battle. Many states have taking the time to write legislation limiting class size. But no matter what the studies say, today’s parents are sold on small class size positively impacting their child’s achievement. Colleagues tell me it’s the first thing they blame when their child is under-performing.
But, parents and the community are also enraged when the music program gets cut or when you charge kids to be on the football team. They question what you are doing with their tax money and federal money.
So, now it’s you turn to be the superintendent. Can your local economy take even more unemployment if you choose to layoff teachers and staff? Will the community understand that you must charge for or eliminate activities to pay the salaries necessary to keep class sizes small?
If you had to make this choice what would you do and why?
Tags: activities, Budget, class size, layoff
