In a message dated 11/20/01 6:16:38 AM Central Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<<
In response, Michael Atherton makes a recklessly false claim that I cite
research that I haven't read, using class size research as an example. I
have read lots of research on class size, including the recent article
in Scientific American, "Does Class Size Matter". While that particular
article questions the expense of lowering class size, it notes that
"[s]tudies such as STAR and SAGE have made it hard to argue that
reducing class sizes makes no difference."
>>Keith sez, I ain't got much book learnen under my snap, but I been in the
rental biz a mitey long spell(sic).
Seriously, being in the rental property business, I have had 20 years to
study and learn about the human nature of individuals and families. I have
learned that it is sometimes possible for a family of 6 to live in a two
bedroom in a clean, quiet and safe manner. Conversely, I have seen single
individuals live in filth and degradation in a nice home and ultimately
destroy the home beyond description.
Transferring my observations to the discussion regarding class room
size, I would believe that satisfactory learning outcome in a large class
would be very dicey.
The already tenuous convergence of great educator, great administration,
ample budget for tools, effective curriculum, etc., must become exponentially
more tenuous as more children are added to the equation. So many of the
children I deal with in the hood are neglected, abused, illiterate, and
otherwise damaged and troubled people. It does only take one child in a
classroom, to disrupt learning for himself and all others. Quite similar to
the way it may only take one disruptive household to disrupt the peace and
tranquility of a whole residential block. This "ain't racket" science, just
my observation.
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