Thank you very much for this enlightened response. I enjoyed reading it and,
although I am not in a position to implement the type of class you describe I
can envision a similar method used in smaller school settings in an effort to
increase the feasibility of such schools. I feel that the large size of
today's schools decreases greatly the amount of help a student can receive.
It is the human touch that they need but don't get. I see a common feeling
both in the smaller elementary students and many community colleges that I
haven't seen in many high schools, universities, and larger community
colleges. It is the ability to care about each individual student. My
normal maximum in a math class is 25 students -- set by the department and in
many there are less. I frequently have classes of less than 20 students and
get to know them fairly well. As soon as I receive the new graphing
calculator and screen I ordered, I plan to introduce it to even my lowest
students in Arithmetic Review, where they will just be starting graphing and
statistics.
Technology is a fact of life in business today. It is everywhere. We do our
students a disservice if we do not include it in our classes. In addition to
it's ability to help us teach and expand the minds of our students, it reduce
the cost of smaller schools so that they become more cost effective. I view
this also as a major component of an attack on the violence in schools. It
is much more difficult for a student to become "lost" in a small school where
teachers see a student more than just 50 minutes a day for one year. Whether
it is most of the day for a year or one class a day for several years, it
provides continuity in the lives of those who need it most -- children. I
have been fortunate. I have attended both small and large schools and also
worked in both. I think technology will help us use the advantages of both.
MaryLiz Pierce
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