Class sizes

Class size ratios

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:51:00 +1200

The Government wants to change teacher ratios in some schools and put the money saved towards better teacher training. What do you think? We are shining a spotlight on the issue of class sizes by asking the views of New Zealanders up and down the country.

A group of newspapers, led by agency APNZ, with the New Zealand Herald, have combined to canvas views the length of the country.

You can see what people are saying about this issue and have your say:

Join the debate on twitter at twitter.com hashtag #nzedu
Have your say at www.nzherald.co.nz/yourviews
Check our your local APN newspaper or provincial newspaper for ways to get involved in the debate.
Let readers know what is going on at your local school by taking part in our survey here http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810068

Taking part in this New Zealand wide investigation are:

The Star (Christchurch)

Wairarapa Times Age

Wanganui Chronicle

“You need one teacher to about 6 to 10 children otherwise...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:36:55 +1200

“You need one teacher to about 6 to 10 children otherwise no one will learn anything. I know that because I didn’t learn anything in a big class back in the ’60s.”

George Tuhiwau
Maori liaison consultant
Titoki, Whangarei

“It’s pretty obvious that the more children the...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:36:46 +1200

“It’s pretty obvious that the more children the harder it is to teach. The teachers are not kicking up a stink for nothing.”

Carol Ashcroft
Retired
Ngunguru, Whangarei

“I think it’s a good idea as long as the money saved...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:36:34 +1200

“I think it’s a good idea as long as the money saved is for teacher training. I come from an era where there were big classes and only one teacher. The Government has to cut money from somewhere. I have mixed feelings about the plan.”

Manu Smith
Housewife
Waipu, Whangarei

“(Better teacher training) is alright but shouldn’t...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:36:11 +1200

“(Better teacher training) is alright but shouldn’t the teachers be trained anyway? Some good will come out of it but the Government is making bad points to make good points. It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Adam Pihama
Baker
Onerahi, Whangarei

“I don’t think they should increase class sizes...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:35:41 +1200

“I don’t think they should increase class sizes because children need attention from the teachers. The more children in a class, the less attention they will get. I think class sizes should stay the smaller they can.”

Jill Ramsey
Retired kindergarten teacher
Dargaville, Whangarei

“I don’t approve of an increase in class sizes, even...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:35:00 +1200

“I don’t approve of an increase in class sizes, even an increase of two or three does make a huge difference … it changes the dynamics of the classes.”

Amber Curry
Teacher
Maunu, Whangarei

“It’s hard enough for teachers to control classes,...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:29:02 +1200

“It’s hard enough for teachers to control classes, especially with kids with behaviourial needs these days which there seems to be more of. More kids is just going to make it harder. Some kids get all the attention, some kids miss out.”

Nicky Proctor
Case manager
Wellington

“I don’t think they did their sums right. I...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:28:52 +1200

“I don’t think they did their sums right. I don’t have a problem with them putting more money into teacher training … but I wouldn’t be for the idea of bigger class sizes.”

Juliet Dreaver
TV producer
Wellington

“It’s crap, I needed a lot of attention when I was...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:26:18 +1200

“It’s crap, I needed a lot of attention when I was at school.”

Brittany Jackson
Public servant
Wellington

“It will just end up leaving children out. I don’t...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:26:07 +1200

“It will just end up leaving children out. I don’t see how it can be a good thing.”

Rob Gittins
Advisor
Wellington

“I can’t understand why the Government is attacking...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:15:47 +1200

“I can’t understand why the Government is attacking education … The last thing our children need is larger class sizes there is absolutely no benefit there at all.”

Joyce Evans
Secretary
Wanganui

“Our children are our future - these are changes we...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:15:07 +1200

“Our children are our future - these are changes we don’t need. We absolutely don’t need fewer teachers and bigger classes.”

Annette Cox
Photographer
Wanganui

“Smaller classes help our children. I find it very...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:14:09 +1200

“Smaller classes help our children. I find it very difficult to understand that the Government could make these terrible changes to education. Don’t they see the suffering this will cause. Kids really need a good foundation. These changes won’t help them.”

Kirsty Shaw
Mother
Wanganui

“More students in classes will mean less quality feedback...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:13:43 +1200

“More students in classes will mean less quality feedback and teachers will be compromised. Less teachers and bigger classes is terrible. If National had said they were going to do this to education at election time they wouldn’t have been voted in.”

Faye Holloway
Teacher
Wanganui

“Teacher quality was better with smaller classes. Now...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:58:31 +1200

“Teacher quality was better with smaller classes. Now they’re going backwards on what was working.”

Rex Jackson
Sickness beneficiary
Masterton, Wairarapa

“I think it’s bloody ridiculous. I can remember...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:58:00 +1200

“I think it’s bloody ridiculous. I can remember being at school during the war and classes were all increased. They couldn’t reach all the children.”

Ewen Peat
Retired
Masterton, Wairarapa

“I don’t agree with it. They have good class sizes...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:57:43 +1200

“I don’t agree with it. They have good class sizes now. Make them bigger and children who take longer to learn will lose out.”

Pat Britton
Retired
Masterton, Wairarapa

“They need to improve teacher quality but not at the cost...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:54:40 +1200

“They need to improve teacher quality but not at the cost of class sizes. Education is top priority for our young people.”

Ian Wyeth
Farmer
Masterton, Wairarapa

“I’m 81 and my teacher had 30 kids in each of her...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:54:20 +1200

“I’m 81 and my teacher had 30 kids in each of her two classes. My education was fine.”

Jim Roseman
Retired
Carterton, Wairarapa