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Student urges fixes to learning gaps, criticizes restorative practice during H.454 testimony
Summary
A Burlington student told the House Education Committee she values challenging instruction, described large class sizes and learning gaps, and said restorative-practice advisory periods should be reallocated to study time for students who are behind. Her remarks came during consideration of H.454, an education transformation bill.
Alexia Springer, a Burlington student and House page, told the House Education Committee on May 1 that she values rigorous instruction but is concerned about large class sizes, widening learning gaps, and the classroom time allocated to restorative-practice activities.
Springer was asked to comment on H.454, described in the hearing as an education-transformation bill. "I value being in a school that challenges me and teaches me new things to help me learn important skills for later in life," she said. Springer described a learning gap among students that makes it hard for teachers to balance instruction: some students are far ahead and others fall behind.
She criticized restorative practice as it is used at her school and said the advisory period — a "30 minute long period" meant for social and emotional learning — is sometimes less effective than using that time as a study hall for students who are behind. "I do not support this method since I do not feel that it is very effective, and sometimes it takes up time that could be used for learning," she said.
Springer described typical class sizes "in the twenties, maybe to the thirties," with physical education classes that can reach about 50 students, and said that smaller classes might better allow teachers to meet students' needs. She also described extracurricular opportunities including cross-country running, cross-country skiing, and a community program called Junior Milers that participates in the Vermont City Marathon.
The transcript records Springer's testimony and committee questions; it does not show committee votes or other formal actions on H.454 in this excerpt.
