OVER-LARGE SCHOOL CLASSES.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 26 November 1935, Page 4

OVER-LARGE SCHOOL CLASSES.

As the result of the employment of additional teachers under the ration- ‘ ing scheme there has been a temporary reduction in the size of classes in primary schools. Let at the beginning of this year, when classes were smaller than ever before, some 55 per cent, of the children in schools of Grade IV and over were taught in classes of over 40 and about 17 per cent, (nearly 20,000) in classes over 50. Since these figures were compiled; the number of large classes has increased rapidly as teachers have resigned from the service and no new entrants have taken their places. As Dr. G. H. Green remarks, “the economists’ who impose large classes on teachers are not getting education cheaply, but are saving money by dispensing with education.” Large classes make it impossible for teachers to know every child intimately and give him individual attention when he needs it, and tfiey create disciplinary problems. — “National Education.”