Soc 202-02 Current Event 2 Education

Samantha Levine
9/10/09
5:06pm

Samantha Levine
Soc 202-02
9-11-09
Current Event Two

Within the newspaper The Times based in Scotland on September 9th, 2009, the news article Smaller class sizes ‘don’t benefit pupils’: Little evidence that smaller class sizes- a key SNP pledge- improved pupil performance, and education conference is told is based upon education by Lindsay McIntosh. Comments on whether smaller class sizes would improve students’ learning are valid or not, were discussed at the Scottish Conservatives’ education conference in Edinburgh. John McLaren, a political scientist and producer at the Centre for Public Policy Research for Regions and Liz Smith, the Tories’ education spokeswoman both agree that the focus of smaller class sizes should be pushed aside and shift to the quality which the teachers working at Scottish schools acquire, instead of quantity of teachers. On the opposing side, Helen Connor, the president of the Education Institute for Scotland (EIS) education union, believes that class size does play an important role in a child’s education.
John McLaren states that “there is little evidence…” that smaller class sizes make a difference, and “the positive impacts probably only happen in the very early stages of primary school…” He also provided the panel with an example of two other school systems, Finland and Singapore. The example consisted of stating that because these two other countries hold professionalism in a much higher esteem, the schooling is better and the teachers are paid accordingly. Liz Smith sides with McLaren and said that she did not believe that reducing class sizes were a priority. She also stated that “what people want to see is a priority on the learning process- that we get high quality teaching when it comes to the basic skills.”
For the rebuttal, Helen Connor backs the policy that smaller classroom size would make a difference. She believes that McLaren is “… not correct to say the evidence doesn’t show class sizes have an impact. It has an impact in the early years.” It was also added that “as international studies show early intervention to support literacy and numeracy with more time and space for teaching was successful”. However, Connor did not ignore the fact that teachers skills were not as high as they could be, so at the end, the Curriculum for Excellence said they would give teachers the freedom and opportunity to build on their skills to deliver quality teaching and learning approaches within their school.”
In conclusion the debate did not come to a final conclusion. This leads Scottish schools with nothing new to go off of, as well as the ongoing debate between John McLaren, Helen Connor, and Liz Smith.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6826859.ece