HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-12-13, Page 5Board establish
BYJEFF SEDDON
The Huron county
board of education
satisfied educational and
economic concerns
Monday when it
established policy for
minimum class sizes in
county secondary
schools.
Realizing that- one to
one ratios between
students and teachers
were educational ideals
and economic disasters
the board attempted to
split the difference
between the two by
setting minimum class
sizes that were affordable
to the board.
In a lengthy report to
the board Director of
Education John Cochrane
said that exhaustive tests
done, on class sizes.in an
American university
showed that as class size
decreased student
achievement climbs,
particularly when class
size goes below 20 pupils.
He said the study
showed that an ideal from
an educational standpoint
is a one to one setting but
added that that is "not
always attainable".
He told the board that
the stagy also indicated
that as class • sizes in-
crease the "learning
process deteriorates".
He said his experience
in teaching involved
classes so large students
were sittingon window
sills and anywhere
possible. He said he
would be the first to say
that situation was "not
acceptable
educationally".
•He said the problem
facing trustees was
arriving at a saw -off.
Class sizes that afforded
the best possible
•educational benefits
while still • being af-
fordable to taxpayers.
He told the -board ef-
for-ts --had---been—made—in- -
recent collective
agreements between the
board and its teachers to
establish maximum class
sizes. He said declining
enrolment and elective
courses being offered
students now made, it
necessary for the board
to set minimums. .
Cochrane said a
workload committee
consisting of teachers,
principals, ad-
ministrative staff and
trustees had tackled the
problem of minimum
enrolments and
recommended some
figures for board policy.
He said the figures were
based on economics and
educational principles.
He said under the
suggested policy the
minimum • class
enrolments for technical
credits would be 20
students, remedial
credits 20, special
education ° credits in
academic subjects 20
while special education
credits in practical
courses would be 15
students.
He said minimum class
sizes would be 12 students
for advanced credits, 10
for general credits, eight
for technical, remedial
and academic special
education classes and six
for practical special
education classes.
The director said the
minimum class sizes
would not be adhered to
at all costs under the
recommended board
policy. He said the
workload 'committee had
several alternatives that
could be used if the class
size was under the
minumums.
He said those alter-
natives included com-
bining two grades into
one class, combining two
classes at the same grade
Ievei, teachers volun.
teering spare time to
teach the course, a night
school course, combining
the needs of two schools
to offer the,course in one
of those two, paying
tuition fees to another
board offering the course
and sending students to
schools operated by that
board or having students
take ministry of
education correspon-
dence courses.
The director pointed
oui• that some of the
alternatives may bring
the. wrath of parents
doWn on trustees. He said
if trustees succumbed to
'Turn to page 7 • -'
•
s policy f
r mini
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1979—PAGE 5
urn class sizes
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