I would like to make you, and other parents in West Prince, aware of the large class size 62 students will experience at Alberton Elementary this coming September. As a concerned parent and educator in my child’s education, I would like to inform you of a huge learning concern I have for each and every one of these students as they step into over crowded classrooms this fall at Alberton Elementary.
There will be 32 students in one grade five classroom and 30 students in one grade four classroom. This is simply unacceptable to developing the learning needs of our students in Prince Edward Island.
On the Department of Education website it states; “The ability to utilize classroom space for special projects, laying out instructional resources and providing individualized instruction is an important consideration, particularly for primary and elementary teachers.”
It is obvious that this objective would not be realized in a classroom of 30-32 students. In fact, there would barely be enough room for a teacher to circulate around 32 desks. It also states on this same website that “Prince Edward Island is a place where learning is highly valued. All individuals have the opportunity to develop their full social, intellectual, economic, cultural and physical potential.”
Having a classroom size of 30-32 students does not show concerned parents that the learning needs of their children are highly valued. Special needs students fall through the cracks that do appear in larger classrooms as it is physically impossible to see to all the children in a given time frame.
The grade four classroom at Alberton Elementary will have English as a Second Language students, an autistic child, and five to six other special needs children. This is all happening in a classroom of 30 students.
As a parent I do not see much learning going on in such a large classroom with all the special needs being met. Individuals in such large classrooms do not have the opportunity to develop their full social, intellectual, economic, cultural and physical potential as they do not get the teaching time needed to achieve these goals.
If the Department of Education is a leader in ensuring equitable opportunities for our students, there would be one classroom of 22 grade five students, one classroom of 20 grade four students, and one split classroom of 20 grade five and four students at Alberton Elementary this September.
According to the Department of Education’s own rules, the class size factor is allocated as one instructional position in elementary levels (grades 4-6) per 25 full-time equivalent students in PEI schools. Having a split class at Alberton Elementary this September would address the current negative learning proposal of having 30 and 32 students in grades four and five respectively.
It is pointed out on your website in a highlighted report under program delivery that, “smaller class sizes in the early grades consistently influence student achievement.” This is a proven fact. Let our children succeed in their education! Also found in this same section was that, “Combined classes are neither better nor worse than single-grade classes. They are simply one of many ways schools use their collective resources to respond to the needs of students.”
Having a split class and two smaller classes also will allow for any extra registrations that may happen between now and early September. Could you imagine what would happen in these classes if four or five new students showed up?
I have written the Minister of Education Gerard Greenan who previously was a principal at Alberton Elementary before his political career, and he replied that his officials told him that this is not quite the situation. He referred me to the Western School Board’s school director, Doug MacDougall, for resolution to my concerns as my information was not up to date.
Mr MacDougall is kindly giving this matter his attention. He promised me in a recent telephone call that there would be an upcoming meeting between concerned parents and the people responsible for this staffing issue.
As a concerned parent in my child’s education I would like to see this situation positively change at Alberton Elementary for September. Other concerned parents of children entering grades four and five this fall at Alberton Elementary need to show their concerns.
I didn’t know about this issue until school was well over in late June. By joining together with other frustrated parents over this staffing issue and large class size at this upcoming meeting, we can make a positive change in our children’s education.
Jessica Campbell
Alberton Elementary School parent
jessica_campbell442@hotmail.com