Dean Chagaris | Dr. Zhang | Marketing 3343 | Sept 30, 2016 

Schools Learn Expensive Lesson on Class Size 

Many states spent billions to shrink student-teacher ratios but now seek cheaper ways to improve performance

http://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-learn-expensive-lesson-on-class-size-1475245698

By 

JO CRAVEN MCGINTY

Sept. 30, 2016 10:28 a.m. ET

This article discusses how schools are realizing that smaller classes sizes aren't always better. An argument can be made on behalf of education that smaller class sizes create a more intimate learning environment that fosters higher education. Who wouldn't want higher education for their children? As members of the human race we all want our children to do better than we did. 

School districts around the U.S have been researching the benefits spending millions, sometimes billions into its educational programs. The main goal is to hire more teachers, expand facilities, and create the learning environment that's optimal for their kids. This is expensive, and after much research has determined:

• By cutting cost and having more children in a class with a higher quality teacher is more beneficial for children 
• The current method of smaller class sizes is ineffective as the quality of teachers willing to work for a lower amount of money is high. 
• The cost deferred (savings) from realigning class sizes could allow for schools to make more hands on decisions regarding the education they provide. 

While states set the education requirements for such things as class sizes, and voters have to approve any changes while states like Florida have pushed the class sizes up between 18-25. As a parent of a child in the Miami-Dade School District I can tell you from personal experience that at the highest level of school in an area, is still sub par to other areas of the country with much needed in the area of teacher recruitment.

Let's look at our system as a whole; as product of the California Education System, having experience with Miami Schools, and Houston area schools I'd say that all need much improvement. We often neglect the situation assume that the current methods are adequate. They are not. Children are falling through the cracks everyday.

It's time for a educational reinvention. Parents, educators, legislators, and anyone else I've failed to mention need to begin thinking "outside of the box." If we're taught to think outside the box then shouldn't the institutions who teach this way of thinking employ it into their own toolbox to create a more conducive leaning environment?