Smaller classes better
The Toronto Star
Mon 29 Aug 2005
Page: A20
Section:
Editorial
Byline:
Source:

When the C.D. Howe Institute, a venerable Canadian public policy
think-tank, makes the extraordinary claim that lower class sizes do not, indeed,
improve student performance, people - parents, teachers, politicians - take
notice.

In a recent commentary on education, policy analyst Yvon Guillemette claims
empirical evidence does not support the premise that children learn better when
there are fewer of them in a classroom.

Canadians largely disagree with his premise, Guillemette notes, citing a 2004
poll that showed 76 per cent felt class sizes are too big.

Intuitively, parents know their children, regardless of age, are
disadvantaged in crowded classes.

Guillemette agrees there is a "modest" benefit to smaller class size for
kindergarten and Grade 1, although he said it disappears in later grades.

He argues that funds designated by the Ontario government in the past two
years to decrease class sizes from kindergarten to Grade 3 could be better spent
to bolster the professional development of teachers on an ongoing basis.

But the C.D.
Howe report has several flaws, not the least of
which is because of the "very sparse" number of solid studies in Canada on class
size.

The report is also contradictory, noting that while South Korean students,
despite large class sizes, outperform Canadians in math and science tests,
smaller classes have been a success other countries, such as Greece and Ireland.

Without question, Ontario's schools are troubled. One indicator is the
dropout rate, which has increased to 32 per cent from 22 per cent in 1999. That
is an alarming trend and must be reversed.

To do it requires a multi-pronged approach, including better teacher
training. But smaller class sizes in junior grades are also a good place to
start, especially for students with different language skills.

The Ontario government is right to push for smaller classes. They should stay
the course on this plan. And perhaps in a decade or so, we will have the
empirical evidence to show it was the right decision.

Edition: ONT
Length: 329 words