In classes, size matters
Bangor Daily News, January 10, 2007
(excerpt) I realize that the editors of the Bangor Daily News have not had much time to reflect upon or analyze Gov. Baldacci’s proposed 2007 state budget, but Todd Benoit begins this process in his "Maiden Maine" commentary over the weekend (Jan. 6-7). For that public service, I thank him. However, I must disagree with the way in which he frames the educational problem in that proposed budget.
Mr. Benoit notes that the largest "school savings" in the budget involve raising class size from 15 students per teacher to 17:
"The saved state money [$130 million a year] would go toward buying technology for Maine schools and lowering college tuition. It allows the governor to present this question: Would you prefer computer equipment for high school students and affordable college rates or would you rather continue to pay for an excess of administrators?"
This statement strikes me as illogical, at best. For raising class size will not affect administration; it will affect only teachers and students. I suspect that what lies behind this proposal is the Department of Education’s notion that any class that does not have a state-mandated number of students is not viable and thus cannot be offered. If that class is not offered, then the teacher who was going to teach it can be used elsewhere in the system or let go. This must be how Gov. Baldacci plans to save that $130 million, by redistributing staff and firing teachers. Is this what Mr. Benoit means when he praises the governor’s tax cut "that puts services in human terms"?
Click on the title above to link to the whole article!
The Todd Benoit column referred to in Mr. Murphy's article is available here.
Bangor Daily News, January 10, 2007
(excerpt) I realize that the editors of the Bangor Daily News have not had much time to reflect upon or analyze Gov. Baldacci’s proposed 2007 state budget, but Todd Benoit begins this process in his "Maiden Maine" commentary over the weekend (Jan. 6-7). For that public service, I thank him. However, I must disagree with the way in which he frames the educational problem in that proposed budget.
Mr. Benoit notes that the largest "school savings" in the budget involve raising class size from 15 students per teacher to 17:
"The saved state money [$130 million a year] would go toward buying technology for Maine schools and lowering college tuition. It allows the governor to present this question: Would you prefer computer equipment for high school students and affordable college rates or would you rather continue to pay for an excess of administrators?"
This statement strikes me as illogical, at best. For raising class size will not affect administration; it will affect only teachers and students. I suspect that what lies behind this proposal is the Department of Education’s notion that any class that does not have a state-mandated number of students is not viable and thus cannot be offered. If that class is not offered, then the teacher who was going to teach it can be used elsewhere in the system or let go. This must be how Gov. Baldacci plans to save that $130 million, by redistributing staff and firing teachers. Is this what Mr. Benoit means when he praises the governor’s tax cut "that puts services in human terms"?
Click on the title above to link to the whole article!
The Todd Benoit column referred to in Mr. Murphy's article is available here.
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