Tuesday, March 29, 2011

We Cannot Afford to Increase Class Sizes

By Rena Sutton; Macon County NCAE Secretary & Past President

Teachers across North Carolina hear how the budget might “require” lay-offs. One repercussion of lay-offs is larger class sizes. Teacher assistant positions, also under the chopping block, have dwindled in the elementary schools to the point of basic coverage in the primary grades. The teaching profession is in disbelief that our lawmakers will put larger numbers of children into already overcrowded classrooms. This is regressive and opposes research-modeled reform efforts calling for 15:1 student-teacher ratios. Ditto for the National Association of Elementary School Principals and NEA.


Today’s children are equal in value to the children in any previous generation, but they face more issues. Challenges include children whose parents are at war, more broken homes, single parents, poverty, homelessness, drugs and hopelessness. We have known and then proven that poverty is a major contributor to multiple factors which can place children at risk for learning and health. “For every talent that poverty has stimulated it has blighted a hundred.” (John W. Gardner)


Our profession has made strong strides toward more differentiation, which requires frequent diagnostic evaluations to test the effectiveness of our teaching. The adage: “Just because you teach it does not mean the child learns it!” is being taken seriously. Our profession is trying to illuminate each student’s needs as the central focus of a growth model. Some legislator voices threaten the tax support we had for this advanced reform model. Our educational gains could diminish.


At a recent interview at our school, teachers were asked what they would do with a larger class size added to their increasing responsibilities and numerous evaluations. There was a quiet, painful pause in the discussion. One teacher had analyzed using different evaluations and found she had a large group of high achievers and a large group of low achievers and only a few in the middle range at that grade level. She said, unfortunately, she would be forced to minimize individualization options. In other words, she would teach students in the middle as students lagging behind or needing to surge ahead would get slighted. Successful teachers need time to build relationships with each child.


Study after study tells us this about smaller class size: increased achievement, significant improvements of percentile rankings using smaller classes, narrowed gaps between economically disadvantaged groups, minority and majority groups. Additionally, studies noted better social adaptability, less dropouts, and the ability to take higher level math and other subjects.


A sincere, highly competent, young teacher expressed to me that she feels class size is a major contributor to her success as a teacher. Each additional student increases the range and types of needs. Discovering and then answering these needs cannot be taken lightly. The teacher feels burdened that legislators are considering reduction of public education funds and teachers. This in turn directly influences the successful education of each child.


A veteran, NBCT educator who has invested her life, career and her personal money laid it straight: “We educators put the children first, and we expect the legislators to do the same!” and then she left the room to make additional preparations to do what she does best: teach.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

NCAE Calls for Boycott of Art Pope Businesses!

Since the beginning of the current session of the North Carolina General Assembly, educators around the state have been actively speaking out for education in the face of threats of cutting the state's education budget by as much as 15 percent. The Wear Red campaign has helped the movement gain visibility, and the North Carolina Association of Educators have vowed to continue the campaign until education funds are protected. The banner above, made by the local NCAE chapter has been circulating the district for weekly photo ops. On Feb. 14, teachers and staff at East Franklin showed their colors.

From the Macon County News:

The largest association of educators in the state is calling for a boycott of all businesses owned by Art Pope, a North Carolina business man and political insider who has contributed millions of dollars to conservative groups pressing for the elimination of caps on charter school funding. The decision to call for the boycott was made last week at the annual convention of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

Art Pope is the president of Variety Wholesalers, Inc., and a director of the conservative political advocacy group, Americans for Prosperity. Pope is also a major supporter of the Civitas Institute, and he holds a seat on the boards of directors for the John Locke Foundation, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. Variety Wholesalers is the parent group to a number of popular stores in the state such as Roses, Maxway, Value Mart, Super 10 and Super Dollar (though not Dollar General), among others owned by Variety Wholesalers Inc.

Read the rest of the story here......