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Teachers warn rising class sizes are undermining individualized instruction
Summary
A representative of the Weston Education Association urged the committee to add a section per grade to prevent larger class sizes and preserve individualized instruction, citing current averages and recent midyear enrollments.
Jody Salisbury, speaking for the Weston Education Association, urged the committee to add class sections to prevent larger class sizes and preserve individualized instruction.
Salisbury said average class size for the current Grade 8 cohort is 22.4 but cautioned that averages obscure variation and some classrooms now exceed 24 students. "The difference between teaching 20 students versus 24 is significant," she told the committee, adding that larger classes limit teachers’ ability to provide individualized instruction, monitor progress and manage behavior.
Salisbury described recent midyear enrollments that increased class rosters and argued the district should plan for post-budget arrivals. She urged the committee to consider adding an additional section per grade to avoid the kinds of compromises teachers face when balancing support for English learners, students with services and overall classroom management.
The committee did not vote on sectioning during the hearing; Salisbury’s request will inform upcoming budget deliberations.
