The Problem With Overcrowded Classrooms

"Amy, you are really getting great at memorizing you times tables," said Mrs. Field, my first grade math teacher, "here is your sticker, and I will put a star next to your name for finishing the 3's times table!" I loved receiving my stickers and I especially loved getting a star next to my name. These small acts made me feel so special, that I had really done something great. This is how I remember my teachers from kindergarten until the fourth grade. Every teacher I had was encouraging, loving, and supportive of each student that they taught. If one student fell behind, the teacher made extra sure to teach and re-teach the subject until it was understood. Once I entered the fifth grade and into middle and high school, each teacher that I had tried to be encouraging, loving, and supportive of their students; however, my teachers often had too many students to give the individual attention that so many children need. When I began to fall behind in certain subjects, my teachers tried to help but were often unable to teach and re-teach, because they had no choice but to continue on with their lesson plans. I continued to fall further and further behind; therefore, I had to spend many hours after school working on my homework problems with my parents. Up until the fifth grade, I attended private school with about 15-20 students in my class; from the fifth grade on, I attended public school with about 30-35 students in each of my classes. This high number of students in my public school classrooms had a negative effect on my learning experiences.

One of the negative effects of having so many students was that my teachers were unable to know me as an individual. For instance, with 30 to 40 students in every class gave the tea...

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.... Having such high numbers of students in my classes did have negative effects on my learning. Without having teachers who knew me as an individual, I was left with a very impersonal learning environment. With having so many students in each of my classes, I had a very hard time having all of my questions answered by my teachers. The hardest part of having so many students in my classes was that I was often not the smartest one in there, and when I gave a wrong answer I was laughed at. It is not fair to feel intimidated by the amount of students in your classroom. No one should be afraid to learn for the fear of embarrassment. Students should not have the opportunity not to learn because the teacher can not relate to them, or because the teacher does not have the time to answer all their questions, or because their teacher only gives attention to the smarter students.