By MARK VAGELAKOS
Curbing to complaints from students and school administrators alike, legislators are reducing the effect of the newly implemented Class Size Amendment.
The voter mandated Class Size Amendment set a cap on the number of students in each classroom: 18 students in kindergarten to third grade classes, 22 students in fourth to eighth grade classes and 25 students in high school classes.
“While the lawmakers concern for school qualities is honorable, their desperate clinging to the magic number 25 is both uninformed and ineffective. Flexibility is absolutely necessary,” junior Caroline Coleman said.
The proposed changes would categorize more classes as electives, exempt from the regulated caps, rather than core classes. Only lower level, required reading, math and science classes will be considered “core” while upper level classes like calculus and chemistry as well as elective class like spanish and United States history would have their caps removed. Dozens of Advanced Placement classes would follow suit.
However, not all believe that the double-back is appropriate. Initially the bill was put on the ballot with the purpose of giving more individual attention to students.
“In some cases I think [the Class Size Amendment] is appropriate. It creates a more intimate environment which is more suitable for a higher level class and fosters a greater education for some students,” junior Erin Webb said.
The teachers union, while initially allowing leeway while transitioning to the mandate, believes the new move to reorganize classes goes against voter wishes.
“[The current proposal] is trying to hoodwink voters,” union spokesman Mark Pudlow said.
Talk of changing the rule increased as the program cost more than initially expected. Overall, the Class Size Amendment has cost the state $18.5 billion in extra teachers and classrooms since its initiation in 2002.
Furthermore, the directive was difficult to adapt to since most classes were already scheduled with more than 25 students. Consequently, the caps flack from students who were blocked from their desired classes due to the cap. If there the cap isn’t kept, the school is fined $3,000 per student.
“The first weeks were hectic for students: schedules didn’t match and many had to be moved and sometimes couldn’t be placed. I think schools became more focused on meeting the goals set by the act rather than their job of helping students receive a higher education,” Webb said.
Click the links below to read opposing editorials on the Class Size Amendment issue
Op Ed: Smaller classes, better outcome
Op Ed: Amendment causes problems for all