Class sizes at Costa have grown too large, leading to problems inside and outside the classroom.
With the loss of several teachers in the past year, class sizes have increased dramatically. According to data compiled by Costa teachers, the average class size in the 2023-24 school year is between 30 and 40 students. This is a substantial increase in the average class size of 25 to 30 students, as stated by the National Center for Education Statistics.
These increased class sizes have led to a multitude of problems, including insufficient classroom space, a decrease in learning, and a heavier workload for teachers.
French teacher Laurie Resnikoff currently teaches a combination class of French 4 and AP French; her class consists of 54 students. The space constraints in her classroom have forced her to expand into the empty classroom next door. This lack of official class space is a safety hazard, as the increased numbers of students reaches the room’s capacity. After a certain point, it becomes dangerous to group that many students together in a classroom.
Moreover, the increased class sizes have drastically shortened learning periods. An anonymous student in Resnikoff’s joint class stated that both French 4 and AP French both get 25 minutes of Resnikoff’s teaching time. The remainder of the period is set aside for independent work. As a result of this scheduling, students are learning at a much slower pace than if they were learning in a smaller classroom setting.
According to the School Superintendents Association, having a class ratio of 15:1 students to teachers leads to higher test scores, higher levels of participation, and improved behavior. While Costa class sizes may not drop down that low, reducing them from their current levels would enhance the learning environment.
Larger class sizes lead to decrease in relationships between teachers and students. Teachers do not have the time to form a connection with each individual student, which can hurt the student’s academic success.
Along with the responsibility of extra students, teachers also have to take on the increase in workload that comes with a larger class.
EducationWeek breaks down a typical teacher’s work hours. Out of a median 54 hours per week, only 46% of a teacher’s work is actual teaching. The rest of their time includes grading and providing feedback on student work, planning future lessons, communicating with parents, and completing general administration work.
Longer classes exacerbate this issue, extending teachers’ already long hours with no additional pay.
Both teachers and students are upset with the new class sizes and are doing all they can to improve the situation. Large class sizes have a tremendous impact on students’ education and teacher responsibilities. Reducing class sizes is crucial to maintaining educational quality, teacher effectiveness, and overall safety at Costa.
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