Larry Dighera wrote:
On Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:38:41 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote in
.net:

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
Are you able to provide examples that support that assertion?

"Although it is popular to claim that smaller class size leads to better
learning, especially in our public schools, I'm not aware of any empirical
data to support this claim. In the US, the average class size in our public
schools is 30, whereas in Japan it is 45--yet Japanese students have
outperformed American students for decades. With regard to freshman
composition, I know of only one published empirical study (Feldman, 1984,
Class size and college students' evaluation of teachers and courses,
Research in Higher Education, 20, 45-116), but it does not address the issue
of class size and performance. There may be others, but if so, they are not
well known. Given the number of variables associated with student
performance--motivation, previous training, students' sex, SES, teacher
expectations, teacher training and methodology, reading ability,
intelligence, etc.--I'm not sure how one could go about even researching
this question in a way that would control all the variables. Having stated
what may be obvious, I would note that much anecdotal evidence supports the
view that effective composition instruction entails establishing a mentoring
apprenticeship with students. If this view is correct, and I believe it is,
then the "ideal" class size would be much smaller than 12. In fact, a
composition teacher would never have more than 4 or 5 students per year."

http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/580


If it is indeed true, to what do you attribute the success of those
schools with greater class sizes in producing high student
achievement?

"Japanese teachers believe that large classes are better than small ones
because they encourage peer relationships and interaction. They also lower
the salience of the teacher as the focus of the students' attention."

"Learning to go to school in Japan." - page 56, Lois Peak, University of
California Press


That is indeed interesting information of which I was completely
unaware.

My personal observation of Los Angeles area high school classes in the
mid '80s (incidental to work I was performing in the classrooms
throughout the school), ranged from the teachers being overloaded at
times to the point of not being able to address the needs of all the
kids, to the teachers being completely overwhelmed by obstreperous
students who paid little to no attention to the lessons the teachers
were attempting teach. I recall one typing class where there were
three or four students huddled around the teacher while the rest of
them indulged in boisterous, disruptive behavior. It was shocking to
witness. I don't recall a single class of calm students intent upon
learning. At the time, I attributed the joke that passed for
education to the teachers being out numbered. Perhaps I was wrong.

Thanks for the information.




Now if you'll study up on global warming we can get you straight there
as well. :-)

Matt