SMALL CLASS SIZES DUMB: THINK-TANK
The Ottawa Sun
Fri 26 Aug 2005
Page: 5
Section:
News
Byline: BY LAURA CZEKAJ, OTTAWA SUN
Source:

REDUCED class sizes have almost no impact on student
achievement, despite public and teacher perception that smaller is better,
according to the C.D. Howe Institute.

A controversial new report states that provinces are wasting millions of
dollars on hiring more teachers to decrease class sizes when there is scant
evidence that it will result in improved grades.

"We are not buying better student achievement. There may be other reasons why
we would want smaller classes," said Yvan Guillemette, author of the report. "We have to be
clear about what we are doing and what we are buying here."

It also states that teachers in favour of smaller class sizes are actually
seeking less work.

"They may be arguing for it, but it would look very bad if they would say we
just want a lighter work load so they will try to make you believe it's because
it actually helps the students," said Guillemette.

The argument is a compelling one for parents who want the best education for
their children. But reducing a class from 25 students to 20 has no proven impact
on the way an educator teaches those remaining children, he said.

Other methods, such as teacher training, would have a bigger impact on
achievement levels, he said.

CLASS SIZES TO BE CAPPED

The province has pledged to cap class sizes at 20 students in junior
kindergarten to Grade 3 by the end of its mandate. It has committed $90 million
in 2004-2005, $126 million for 2005-2006, with the total amount expected to
reach $450 million by 2008.

The money will mainly go toward hiring new teachers.

Education Minister Gerard Kennedy dismissed the report, saying it is a
commentary that pulls data from certain studies and omits others.

"The real problem with the study is its premise that we don't in Ontario say
class size is a magic bullet that should be taken by itself," he said.

Class size reduction is part of a broader strategy, including training
teachers and providing textbooks, being implemented by the province. The
minister said the province will be studying the impact their policies have made
in the classroom.

"We have made an investment, class size is important, but it's only 15% of
the total investment we are making in education," he said.

Emily Noble, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario,
said the report fails to take into account that teachers and parents see
first-hand benefits experienced by students in a smaller classes.

"When you have time for a child, it makes the difference," she said. "It
gives the kid self-esteem and if we know the child is positive about school,
then the child is going to want to come back and stay in school."

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board vice-chair David Moen said that while
there is inconclusive research on the topic, the province's initiative to
decrease primary class sizes is consistent with what has been proven to work.

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Edition: Final
Length: 489 words