What every parent desires is quality education for their children, and as a heartfelt plea from a parent in the Battle Ground school district, this should not be too much to ask for. My children, like many others, are not getting the education they deserve because they are lost in the overwhelming class sizes common in our schools. This is not a case of the school dismissing the needs of its learners — in fact, they offer unparalleled support for students excelling and those in special education. However, it is the students in the middle, who slip through the cracks of our system, who are of concern.
Large class sizes and insufficient schools are systemic problems that impact students in the Battle Ground school district. With the current teacher-to-pupil ratios, it is impossible for educators to give the attention needed to each child. Consequently, these students are often pushed through the system, disregarded and left feeling uncatered for and ignored. Recognizing the academic potential that lies dormant in each of these learners, it’s critical we act now to create a more inclusive environment where their academic needs are met.
Credible research supports this plea, with studies finding a strong correlation between smaller class sizes and improved student performance. According to the Center for Public Education, “when class sizes are reduced from substantially larger sizes, in the range of 30 or more students, to smaller sizes, in the range of 15 to 18 students, student achievement increases.”
In light of these findings and the current plight of our children, we call upon the educational authorities to enact a policy requiring smaller class sizes in existing schools and allocate resources to build more schools in the Battle Ground school district.
Let us prioritize the needs of our future generation and set them up for success by providing a conducive learning environment.
Please sign this petition and lend your voice to this fight for the sake of our children’s futures, https://chng.it/gkfWb6VsSr.
Marissa Lee
Yacolt
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