Does class size matter? This is one of many major concerns for educators and others with Bill 22. The B.C. government is trying to use it to change the size and the composition of classrooms in our public schools. Currently Grades four and above have a cap of 30 students and should enroll no more than three special needs students. These students do not include students with learning, behaviour, or other difficulties that have not been identified nor given support, for a myriad of reasons. The government plans to allow more students in classrooms with no cap on special needs students. This combination will make learning in many classrooms very difficult.
Many private schools, colleges, and universities state their school is better because they have small classes. If small classes are important for adult learners shouldn't they be at least as important for the younger learners in our public school system?
Researching class sizes at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George has had surprising results. Several classes are capped at 37. Many other courses are capped much lower. Most trade courses are capped between 16 and 20 students. However, high schools can have up to 30 students, in courses such as woodworking and metal work. The college ESL courses enroll 16 or 17 students. Composition and style English courses have 14 to 23 students. Prep English courses which include reading, writing, speaking, listening, and writing skills have 15 to 19 students. These college courses are capped lower than the 24 student limit currently in Grade one to three classes in B.C. and most are lower than the maximum students allowed in kindergarten. These primary students are being introduced to and taught many of the same skills and yet have more students per teacher in their classrooms.
The following is a quote taken from the BC Colleges website: "BC Colleges has (sic) smaller classes - this means you get more individual attention from your instructor, have more opportunities to ask questions, and are better able to learn and practice new skills." If adults benefit from smaller classes how in the world can we justify not giving our young learners in the school system the same opportunity? B.C. has one of the best education systems in the world. Let's not erode the system but support, improve and celebrate what we have.
Terry Phillips
Prince George
