Weingarten looks good talking, but when it comes time for doing, she does it all for Weingarten. It's good to see people catch on to her tiresome act.
I do not know where this paper gets their facts, but most studies do show that lower class size makes a difference. However the teacher also needs to know how to adjust lessons. Not all children should be taught the same way.
There is a first grade class with 27 children in my school! Class size is an issue!!!
I share Schoolgal's sentiments and wrote NY Daily News a letter saying the same thing. I bet they won't print mine or any of the thousands they get like mine.
I just wrote the Daily News and told them they were part of a dismal propaganda machine that would rather blame teachers for all the ills of the system than admit that lowering class size is costly. I'm sure it will stay in cyberspace along with the rest of the letter mentioning the ART of teaching, and the value of senior teachers among other things. Just what they didn't want to hear!! I asked them why wouldn't smaller class size work? I also asked about their teaching credentials and experience in the field. I'm awaiting a response.... 
They HAVE tried charter schools, they HAVE lengthened the school year, they HAVE lengthened the school day--and with the "teacher shortage," merit pay is a pipe dream, since the city can barely get applicants, let alone withhold pay from some of them in some kind of neocon financial S&M-- ditto for tenure.
If you're going to bring research into it, at least get your facts straight. The fact is that ressearch has shown that class size only makes a significant impact on student achievement when it's reduced well into the teens - something that's next to impossible in an urban school district, especially in the upper grades. In particular, research shows that lowering class size to a point that's above the upper teens - even if that represents a dramatic decrease - has NO significant impact on student achievement. And the fact is also that there are plenty of effective teachers who have classes bigger than the upper teens. This all leads back to the point that if you have to choose between more effective teachers teaching larger classes and less effective teachers teaching smaller classes, you'd choose the former every time - because that, again, is what the research (and more importantly common sense) shows. You can whine about how we shouldn't have to choose between the two, but that's not going to change the reality of education funding in large urban districts anytime soon.
"if you have to choose between more effective teachers teaching larger classes and less effective teachers teaching smaller classes, you'd choose the former every time"
Ya think that maybe the effectiveness of a teacher can be seriously influenced by class size? Find me a teacher who is not more effective with 23 than with 33?
Talk to teachers at the elite private schools who taught in the public schools and one of the major reasons they left was the high class size. And if they are honest they will also tell you they were never as effective in public schools as they are in the private school.
I disagree with your assertion that Randi's "smart," NYC. I've seen her up close and heard her speak as well, and "smart" wasn't the word that came to mind. "Manipulative" was. Anon has it right - Weingarten (and her union hacks) do what is good for the perpetuation of Weingarten and union hackery. Whenever I see her talking on NY 1 or writing in one of the NY newspapers, I think "Gee, what's she getting out of this?"
Randi is very smart. Look what she has accomplished for herself and Unity:
1. Bought herself her own opposition group to use as she sees fit.
2. Solidified total control over Unity Caucus.
3. Gotten massive raises without givebacks for the faithful in Unity.
4. Set herself up for a major career move.
5. Uses massive amounts of dues money a giant PR operation that mainly benefits the few.
6. Manages the membership superbly.-- see 82% election vote in 2004 and 90% vote on contract.
She was smart enough to see the danger of the 2005 40% No vote by teachers and has tried to co-op every issue the opposition raises.
If you are measuring her intelligence by what she gains for teachers you are making a big mistake. That is not her purpose. She only will get what she can for teachers without endangering the prime directive -- Keep Unity in power and advance her career.
Speaking of the Daily News...congratulations on being picked up in the print edition right next to this op-ed piece!
Actor212,
Thanks very much.
RBE,
I don't disagree with you, really, but I don't think being manipulative precludes being smart. To do it well, you have to be smart.
Find me a teacher who is not more effective with 23 than with 33
I couldn't do that, but I happen to know I do better with 23 than 33. I also believe that good teachers are more important than class size, but Nassau kids have good teachers and smaller class sizes. I see no reason why city kids shouldn't have the same.
Particularly while Mayor Moneybags is sitting on billions.
Anon:
Please cite your sources.
btw, any teacher can handle 30+ respectful, motivated students with strong parental support for the teacher.
I think you are missing the underlying message by the Daily News here. The real enemy is Bloomberg and his media machine. Class size is an issue (through contracts or through state action-CFE- as the UFT is trying to do now) that addresses education and the kids. Bloomberg and Klein have no interest in kids so they will retsuctrure again.
You're absolutely right about the mayor, hs teacher.
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