[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > First, I want to apologize to Mike Atherton for using his name in the subject line >of a post to mpls-issues. Someone was kind enough to let me know that it is not an >appropriate behavior.
Thank you. > Second, I want to correct a statement I made about use of referendum funds. I said >that every penny of referendum funds had been used for class size reduction. It is >true that the referendum included both a class size reduction initiative and a >commitment to spend some of the funds on early childhood education. I am gathering >the gross dollar amounts used and will communicate that as soon as I have them. I think that we'll all find these figures interesting. > As far as I am aware, there are very few methodologically adequate studies on the >effects of class size reduction and those that do give solid results in one direction >on the other do indicate the smaller class sizes do benefit children in the lower >grades who are from minority groups. One of the many reasons that so many members of >the committee feel comfortable with asking for class size reduction to be reviewed is >the absence of evidence of benefit in upper elementary through senior high school. These issues have been discussed previous on the list. New members might want to go through the archives. Basically, no one (in my opinion) has been able to sight convincing evidence that reducing class sizes has a significant effect on student achievement and certainly not for the cost. For a review in a well respected magazine see the November 2001 issue of Scientific American: "Does Class Size Matter?" > I will try to get some better information on the real-world class size numbers. I >can tell you that the higher the grade the lower the incidence of meeting the class >size ratio goals. In the high schools, there are many instances of too-high class >size ratios. The Board is concerned about this and, at their last meeting, Dr. >Johnson was instructed to report back to the Board about why the class sizes are so >large and what she is doing to remedy the situation. Personally I am not worried about the size of the classes. I am worried about positive learning environments, student discipline, teacher expertise and ultimately in student performance. Since class size does not necessarily have an important impact on these factors and I would like to see the district focus its efforts in other directions. > I'd like to repeat my invitation for anyone with any reduction ideas that they >haven't seen aired send them along and the committee will make sure they come to the >attention of the district and the Board. The next Board of Education meeting is on >Tuesday, 02/12/2002, at 4:00 p.m., at 807 NE Broadway (district headquarters) in the >Assembly Room on the third floor. Dr. Johnson will be presenting the results of the >public input efforts and, perhaps, beginning to make preliminary budget >recommendations. I've been to a couple of these public song and dance routines put on by the City. Public comment provides the Board (or the City) with the ability to say that they've consulted with the public and not much else. If the Board members really what's to know what people have to say they can read it right here on this list... and I suggest that they do. Michael Atherton Prospect Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
