Israel is now in one of its frenzies of breast-beating, because according to statistics, we have an outrageously large number of students per class compared to other academic countries. I get a kick out of under thirty, 27.6 being considered too many.
When I was in elementary school, P.S. 46, Bayside, NY, along with my fellow baby-boomers, my classes had an average of 39-40 kids. Yes, I do remember the numbers. We were five classes in our grade, and we did well. Not all the classes had that number, because after the first grade we were divided by ability-success. The top class averaged over forty kids per year, and I was in the "second top" class.
The students who needed more help were in smaller classes. No, I don't remember how small. By being divided in homogenous groupings, rather than the more pc heterogeneous classes, it was easier for the teacher to teach and for us to learn.
Another difference was the noise level. I never would have succeeded in today's noisy and active classrooms. It was much easier to concentrate in the "more repressed" 1950's.
We also got more sleep, and so did the teachers. It makes a big difference. Insufficient sleep causes memory, concentration/attention and impulsivity problems similar to ADD and ADHD. Two to three more hours of sleep per night would be more effective than ritalin or any other medication.
Our foods had fewer additives, and many experts say that the additives aren't good, possibly effecting children very seriously. Our world was also quieter.
To wrap it up, class size isn't everything when it comes to education, and I didn't even touch the topics of curriculum and methodology.
6 comments:
I think it's also an issue of respect.
Once upon a time, kids respected adults, especially those in positions of 'authority' like teachers.
It's a lot easier for one person to control 40 kids who respect The Teacher than it is nowadays with 25-30 kids.
Yes, also my parents totally trusted the school's judgment and would never complain, even when they should have. today students and parents complain all the time, which takes away needed respect.
Pesky Settler took the words right out of my mouth. I think it's ridiculous that Israeli kids call their teachers by their first name- bringing back "Mrs." and "Mr." would go a long way toward fixing some problems in the classroom. There needs to be that "wall" between teacher and students.
I agree that the teacher isn't the students' peer and shouldn't be treated as one. Yet, calling a teacher by "Mrs." and "Mr." as RR suggests won't cut it in Israel. It's way too formal. In MHO, using "teacher," even if accompanied by the first name, will be more readily accepted by student and teacher alike will help put a respectable distance between the student and teacher.
RR, Yes, there must be respect, but as Sara Laya wrote the mentality is different and Mr/Miss/Mrs won't work.
Sometimes we have to remind the students that we're the teachers, not their servants.
But it's hard when the past few Ministers of Education, most notoriously Limor Livnat and Yuli Tamir have promoted "restructuring programs" which treat teachers like lazy factory workers in need of strict rules and demands.
You neglected to mention the influence of television, not nearly as pervasive in the 50s and 60s, internet that eats up the rest of the time not consumed by gameboys or atari or x-box... the kids don't know how to pay attention any more becuase of these influences. I actually read something that siad that the icon of kids' programming, Sesame Street, was responsible for causing ADD like symptoms, since everything was fed to the kids in such sort bites that they didn't learn to attend for more than 2 minutes or so at a time!
Post a Comment