I just think its crazy how state education officials have ordered Detroit Public Schools to implement a financial restructuring plan. This plan will cause half the schools in Detroit to close which in turn will make class sizes as big as 60 students! Robert Bobb, the districts emergency financial manager is preparing a list of recommended school closures and is also discussing layoffs. He is focused on the deficit elimination plan, but his last day with Detroit Public Schools is June 30th, and then another financial manager must continue to implement Bobb’s plan. This plan is supposedly shrinking the district to 72 schools with about 60,000 students in 2014. In the last decade Detroit has lost about 84,000 students, leading to a loss in state aid of more than $573 million.
Overall, Detroit (and the state of Michigan) needs a long-term solution that will resolve these issues. Unfortunately, no one has a better solution than to close schools, lay off teachers, and increase class sizes.
It’s difficult enough for a teacher to manage a class of 30 students so what makes them think that this increase in class size will work? I feel as if they’re only digging a deeper hole..
This is really sad. A classroom of 60 students will be so hard for a teacher to manage. The students will have almost no chance of getting one-on-one time with the teacher, and any extra help that they need. How will teachers be able to form relationships with each student? Trying to cater to each individual need will be very difficult and students might start falling very behind. This solution may have very negative consequences for both teachers and students, and could overall affect students education.
ReplyDeleteQuivers went through my body when I read that classroom size may be as large as 60 students. What teacher would be able to handle that, I know I couldn't! With the limited resources they already have, doubling class size is a recipe for inevitable disaster. I'm not sure what the proper solution would be for this scenario. I know that alot of internship year placements are being postponed because of the unknown school closings. I hope that no one student teaching next year gets placed in a school that closed and then has to be replaced. That would be awful:(
ReplyDeletewow I didnt know thats why it's taking so long for us to hear back about placements.. I'm doing mine in Detroit but im a little over 45 minutes away so I hope I dont get placed there!
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