Are the new class sizes at Braintree High affecting students? Is it really that stressful for teachers? The answer: yes, one million times yes.
Last year our town faced a detrimental budget crisis. Luckily we were able to pass the $8 million override through the help of students, teachers, and the entire community. But, the one effect of the budget that was unavoidable, is larger class sizes.
Now into this year, teachers and students alike are struggling. Students weaving through the packed room of desks, teachers are not able to give as much attention to specific students as before. It should not be taking close to 20 mins to teach a simple ‘calculator’ class in math or help a few students check their thesis statements in english.
Both groups have expressed their concerns to the school committee. During the September 16 meeting, Braintree Education Association President, Mr. Dinh, said, “We’re feeling the pain because we have much less staff…we need more support.” BEA vice president, Ms. Fitzgerald, also voiced her concerns at the October 7 meeting, “I know teachers whose class sizes have increased by 50% whose workload far exceeds what they can reasonably manage. Our students are suffering because of this.”
I myself, as a student representative, spoke at the committee on the October 8th meeting. I expressed that it is unfair that the students who are being pressured to take AP and advanced classes do not get the same experience as the college preparatory and honors students who are in smaller classes. Or, as student representative Ruby Maggio explained “We have desks jammed in the corner. We have to climb over desks to get into seats…it is not what we hoped for [with these AP classes].”, in her update.
So if both the teachers and the students feel similarly, what has happened to help amend the issue? Nothing. There have been numerous complaints and no extra help has been provided. Yes, the committee and administration deal with countless issues, daily, but this should be a priority.
When teachers are stressed, they are not able to teach at their best ability. This, of course, is not their fault, yet it still does impact the student because they are not getting the best learning experience. When students are unable to form close relationships with their teachers in large class sizes, it creates a sense of disconnect between one another.
School is supposed to be a safe place. For the students, teachers, the paraprofessionals, the custodians, the health staff, the food staff … every person in the building. Not a place of stress and low morale.
We need to reduce class sizes, provide more mental health resources for all, allow teachers more time for themselves, and give students a chance to learn at their best potential. The only way to do so is with increased funding for the schools. It is the only solution to this problem. It helps each person in the building. It will give Braintree High School the opportunity to return to its previous state that we all know and love.
