Some of the leading researchers in Canada, including Michael Fullan, Ben Levin, Penny Milton and Charles Ungerleider have created a blogspot entitled "Facts in Education" which: "aims to correct factual errors in education that appear in various news media sources across Canada. The purpose of this project is not to critique the article or the news outlet, but simply to inform you of the real facts in education as supported by empirical evidence."
Their latest post brings research syntheses into the question of whether or not smaller class sizes make a difference, with the conclusion from a number of meta-analyses and specific research projects being that in the younger years smaller is better. However, this is only true if if you keep students in smaller classes for longer periods of time (perhaps K-3 as we do in B.C.) and have the right programs being taught by the right teachers supported by the right interventions for students who struggle.
The need for this leading think-tank to bring these comments to the fore through their blog came from Malcolm Gladwell making the front page with his assertion that class size "is the biggest dead end in the world", arguing that it is only and all about quality of teaching and teachers. His speech, given to a Liberal think-session entitled Imagining Ontario's Future was noteworthy in that it flew in the face of both research and the Ontario government's plans. It also hit the media, giving rise the the Facts group publishing its response as noted above.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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1 comment:
I do agreed with Mr. Malcom about education, in a sense the size of a class is not crucial for a good education, but what is important is the quality and passion that a teacher has for teaching. Teaching is one of the most amazing and privilege jobs a human can perform, teachers are molding lives, teaching values,helping with goal settings,allow students to dream and think big,but all this things just happen when is love for the job and for the students. Parents are with the hope that their children will be better going to school;remember the days when parents though that school was a waste of time, they needed their children at home helping with the chores for everyday survival. If teachers can remember every single morning what a beautiful job they have, schools will be a wonderful place for all. Teachers are the leaders of the classroom, they can make things happen or not.If the teachers are continually reminded of what is their main goal; to educate, to nurture and to encourage all the students to be a better human we will have a better world.
But if the teacher response is I don't have enough time to get to know all my students because there are to many, then they should be doing something else,a class of 20 or 30 with a passionate, loving and respectful teacher will find
success always.
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