THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160277
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
SUBTRACT 10 FROM 30 in elementary school classes, and the difference is much more than 20.
New math?
Not quite.
It's a new state mandate requiring smaller classes in kindergarten through third grade. Last year, some of the city's elementary schools had as many as 30 students in a class. This year, most of those classes have been reduced by a third.
The result is more individualized attention and a better chance of children getting off to a good start, according to school officials.
``I can't believe this is going to do anything but good things,'' said Joyce Trump, Suffolk's assistant superintendent in charge of instruction.
Suffolk has hired 22 new classroom teachers for the city's 10 elementary schools to meet the state-funded initiative, Trump said. Some schools also added mobile units to help house the additional classes.
The state formula requires a school to have one teacher for every 20 students if 25 to 49 percent of the school's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. If 50 percent or more qualify, the ratio must be 1 to 18.
Five of the city's elementary schools qualified for the 1 to 18 formula and five qualified for 1 to 20, Trump said.
The actual class sizes vary because art, music and physical education teachers are factored into the equation. The largest classes have 22 students.
``We have had 28 to 30 in kindergarten classes,'' Trump said. ``We had to have teacher assistants, but even so, that's a lot of children in that space.''
City school officials wanted to have smaller classes earlier but had not been able to afford it, Trump said.
``We had set as a goal reducing class size in those critical grades kindergarten to third grade,'' she said. ``We are really excited that we are able to do it.''
School systems were required to apply for the state funds and to contribute a portion of the costs, according to a locality's ability to pay.
The smaller classes are better for everyone, Trump said.
``I know it will be a better situation for teachers and students,'' she said.
Barbara Wells, a kindergarten teacher at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, had as many as 30 students last year. This fall, she started the school year with 22.
``You can tell the difference right away,'' Wells said.
With the smaller class, there are fewer tables where the students do their work, so the teacher can reach each child more easily.
``Proximity control is important in kindergarten,'' she said. ``We're able to get to all children much faster.''
Fewer students mean less competition for the teacher's time.
``There's more chance to get to the children every day to help them write in their journals,'' Wells said. ``If they need help in an area they're working in, we can get to them quicker.''
Sunny Dixon, Kilby Shores Elementary School principal, said teachers and parents are all pleased with the smaller classes.
``I think any time you reduce the numbers, it gives teachers more opportunity to interact,'' she said.
``Our first grade classes are right at 20 to 1 this year,'' Dixon said. ``Last year, a lot were 28 to 1. I know the number 8 doesn't sound like much, but if you're packing lunches, eight more lunches makes a lot of difference.''
With fewer people, certainly the teacher can get around to students more quickly.
``When you want help and need it, if you raise your hand and have to wait a long time to be recognized, you can forget your question,'' she said.
Large classes make it difficult for teachers to know the students personally and to pay close attention to their needs, Dixon said.
``It's sort of like spreading peanut butter,'' she said. ``After a while it gets so thin, you don't know it's there.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Barbara Wells, a kindergarten teacher at Booker T. Washington
Elementary in Suffolk, reads to a smaller group of children this
year.
by CNB