One class size no longer fits all

Please find attached a media release calling for smaller class sizes and introducing PPTA's new president, Robin Duff. Just an interesting footnote, but Mr Duff and national leader John Key who is today making an important speech in Burnside, have something in common - Burnside High School. Mr Duff was a teacher there when John Key was a student (though he tells me that he didn't teach him).

One class size no longer fits all

Class sizes in secondary schools urgently need to be reduced if schools are to meet community expectations for a “students’ first” approach to teaching and learning, says new PPTA president Robin Duff.

Mr Duff, an English teacher at Burnside High School, takes up the presidential position today.

“The community’s desire for personalised learning and the NCEA push for individual learning pathways for students and the associated need for more educational guidance are creating intense pressure to reduce class sizes,” he said.

In a PPTA survey last year, 66 schools revealed that over a third of their classes had more than 30 students while in a previous 2004 survey teachers believed that 37% of their classes were too large for either the space, subject, teaching style or ability level of their students.

“Even in smaller schools where class sizes are more moderate, an injection of extra teachers will help them increase the range of subject options available to students,” Mr Duff said.

Overseas studies of the impact of smaller class sizes suggest that students learn faster, teachers give personalised attention and small group instruction more effectively, student participation and enthusiasm is greater, there is a sharp decline in disciplinary problems and an upsurge in teacher morale and parental involvement.

“Smaller classes lead to better teacher: student relationships and more effective teaching; teachers know more about their students and are able to personalise learning.

“We often fret about the tail of underachievement but there are many students who will flourish when we provide them with one-on-one assistance.

“The question is not whether we can afford to reduce class sizes but whether we can afford not to – for the sake of our children’s future.”

Mr Duff said PPTA would also be renegotiating the secondary teachers ‘ collective agreement later in the year.

“We want to make teaching a more attractive and enjoyable profession by improving pay, increasing the number of career pathways for teachers and providing more opportunities for continuous learning and sabbaticals.”

ENDS

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