http://712educators.about.com/od/issuesineducation/tp/teaching_budget_cuts.htm
Larger Classes
With budget cuts come larger classes. Research has shown that students learn better in smaller classes. When there is overcrowding there is a greater likelihood of disruptions. Further, it is much easier for students to fall through the cracks in larger schools and not get the extra help they need and deserve to succeed. Another casualty of larger classes is that teachers are unable to do as many cooperative learning and other more complex activities. They are just too difficult to manage with very large groups.Without a doubt I know that half of the teachers that were laid off could not control their students. They were literally hanging from the chandeliers. However I can't believe why the Assistant Principal was let go. She does a wonderful job, but is making 100,000 + so I guess there lies the problem.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23116409/
WASHINGTON - School budgets have seemed to defy gravity in recent years — going up steadily without ever coming down. But school board members from across the country say that's likely to change soon, and they're bracing for leaner times forced by the nation's economic downturn.
Board members in Washington last week for an annual conference said shortfalls in state budgets coupled with pessimistic predictions about local revenues are forcing them to look for ways to trim next year's budgets, which they are working on now.
I hope my fellow co-workers are really being laid off due to "budget cuts" and not because of their inability to control their students.
It's sad that there is not more incentives given to older teachers who are on the verge of retiring. If the staff is younger then they cost less and the extra money could be used to hire more staff.
ReplyDeleteOvercrowding is now even becoming a problem in the suburban schools. They are increasing class sizes instead of hiring more teachers. The teachers are expected to complete more and more paperwork, assessments and detailed logs about each child- if they have more students in their class these tasks are going to lose their relevance. Teachers are going to become frustrated that they do not have time to actually teacher the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteLarger class sizes are horrible for teachers and students alike. A few years ago, I had 38 eighth graders in my classroom. All of these students were below grade and many were huge behavior problems. It was a frustrating and draining year for me and the students. I am not sure how my kids could learn anything because I was always having to stop teaching for discipline issues. If we keep cutting budgets, teachers are going to see more and more classrooms like this. It is not good for the teachers and it is detrimental for our students.
ReplyDelete