Class size went up drastically, when the budgeting was changed. The government used to give a set amount for a "class" of a certain number and up. Then it was changed as a payment "per student." So it's vital for the school to put as many students in a class as they can. Also, in schools like the one in which I teach, there's pressure to accept and hold onto negative (problematic and disruptive) students, because the schools need the money.
So, there's a very quick and easy way to reduce class size if Education Minister Tamir and her bureaucracy really wanted to. And there's a very simple recommendation that Irgun Morim, Teachers Union, head, Ron Erez, could make if he really wanted to help the students and teachers. Just go back to the old budgeting system.
According to an article in the Jerusalem Post, Tamir is promising to reduce class size in ten years! Ron Erez thinks that 7-8 would be a fine compromise. Here's what I sent to talkback:
It's all a joke. The kids in elementary school will be finished with high school by then. That's the loss of another generation.
That's what happens when you let politicians run things.
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