Reducing Class Size

There are many impacts that could affect the academic achievement .one of them is reducing class size. Based on the work of a group of researchers headed by Gene Glass and Mary Lee Smith, 15 students was chosen to be the number of students in small class size for the major benefits to be obtained (Glass, et 1978).It is suggested that reducing class size by five student is expensive but it is not found to be as costly as lengthening the school day or using computer assisted instructor. It can have considerable advantages because it provides better monitoring of student and it gives greater attention to less achievement students. Further benefits for reducing class size could be that the teachers are more consistent in their class management. It is claimed that reducing class size is expensive, but while this may be true to some extent, it would have a huge economic benefits and a great investment. The countries would have a better educated and instructed population. Although data have been collected to prove that reducing class size is expensive, however, it is not convincing and consistent enough to provide and acceptable explanation for the expense of the additional class rooms, teachers, equipments and resources that would be required. Many studies argued whether the cost matters or not. A study was performed in Texas where 15 poorly performing elementary schools were given $ 500,000 each per year for five years to reduce class size. Even two schools out of the fifteen only showed an improvement but money did matter for these two schools.(Sadowski 1995). Furthermore, the cost –effectiveness can not be accurately considered since the cost is measurable while the effectiveness is not.

In small size class the teacher can watch the individuals. So, more attention will be provided for the under achievement student, more students on-task, fewer students off-task especially in reading and less time is spent in waiting for the next assignment. Furthermore, it