By Victoria A. Caruso
Large enrollment in Chatterton 4th grade sparks concern
With fourth grade enrollment at the Roland Chatterton Elementary School expected to decrease during the 2000-2001 school year, the Merrick School District reduced the number of fourth grade classes from four to three.
As a result, parents of incoming fourth graders expressed concern that the elimination of the one class will result in overcrowded classes, making things more difficult for an already complicated grade.
At the district's August 8 board meeting, Dr. Ronald Smith, superintendent of schools, suggested that the maximim number of students allowed in each fourth grade class, beginning in September 2000, be decreased..
Dr. Smith's proposal would then require the district to open a fourth section at the Chatterton School.
Dr. Smith also proposed that for the long range, the school policy committee should review Merrick's class size policy.
Petition
Concern for the number of students per fourth grade section was first presented to the Merrick Board of Education last month. Parents of incoming Chatterton fourth-graders presented the board with a signed petition requesting that the district continue providing four, fourth-grade sections rather than the three sections being proposed.
The petition, which included more than 50 signatures, stated that parents were concerned about the large class size because "fourth grade is a particularly critical year with important standardized tests...Many children need the attention that will not be available if there is [an]...increase in class size."
Projected enrollment
In the Merrick School District, the current maximum number of students per class is 22 in kindergarten and first grade; 25 in second and third grade; and 27 in fourth through sixth grade.
District policy, however, allows class size in kindergarten through sixth grade to exceed by one in all sections but the last. Only when the last section exceeds the district's maximum enrollment policy by one is a new section opened.
"For example, if there are 23 children in the [last] kindergarten section," said Dr. Smith, "a new section would be opened and the 92 students would then be divided amongst five sections, with approximately 18 children [in a section.]"
As of press time, the district is anticipating an enrollment of approximately 1,920 students for the upcoming school year, an increase from the 1,894 students enrolled during the 1999-2000 school year.
Last year, Chatterton's 92 fourth graders were distributed among four classes, with 23 student per class. For the 2000-2001 school year, school district officials were looking to divide Chatterton's 83 fourth graders into three classes --- 28 students in the first two sections and 27 in the third section -- causing the grade to be one student short of opening a new section.
Due to a decrease in fourth grade enrollment, the district has eliminated a fourth grade section at the Birch School. Last year, Birch's 116 fourth graders were separated into five sections. As of press time, the 87 fourth graders expected to attend the Birch School in the fall will be divided up into four sections, with approximately 22 students per section.
At the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School, fourth grade population for the 2000-2001 school year is expected to increase by 15 students, from 84 to 99. The district, however, plans to maintain the four, fourth grade sections offered last year, raising class size from 21 students per section to as high as 25.
As of press time, Dr. Smith said it would be difficult for the school district to determine the exact number of students expected in September at each school and in each grade. "Class levels fluctuate during the summer," said Dr. Smith. "During August people move in and others move out."
Why smaller classes?
In interviews with the Herald, district officials said maturity levels in the fourth grade, as well as rigorous academic requirements, may be reasons for smaller fourth grade classes.
"Children [in fourth grade] are still at a level of immaturity and in need of [more personalized] attention," said Dr. Smith. "Also, fourth graders are under a great deal of stress because it is the first time they are getting tested in so many areas."
Board of Education trustee Bobbie Rivera is in favor of reducing the fourth grade class size policy. "Fourth grade is a pivotal grade right now, [and] kids at that age still need the primary attention and the most nurturing as possible. Having two or three less kids in a class can make a difference."
Martin Valk, who was elected to the Merrick Board of Education in May, agreed: "There is a lot of standardized testing in the fourth grade that puts an additional layer of pressure on the students," said Mr. Valk. "We need to give our children as much of an opportunity to excel as possible. The smaller the class size the more individualized attention our children will receive."
Although an advocate of smaller classes, Michael Weinick, an assistant principal for the New York City Board of Education and current vice president of the Merrick school board, said fourth grade shouldn't be the only class singled out by the district.
"Although I am all for smaller class sizes," said Mr. Weinick, "I don't believe in teaching to a test. If we are going to look at our class size policy we should be looking at all grades."
He added that the child's maturity level should not matter when determining class size. "The size of the class shouldn't be determined by whether or not a fourth grader is more like a third grader or a fifth grader," said Mr. Weinick. "The fact is they are fourth graders."
Effects of smaller classes
While the goal in creating smaller classes is to provide students with more personalized attention, reducing class size may cause additional problems in the district, officials said.
"Decreasing class size may create space constraints in all three buildings," said Dr. Smith. "When class size is lowered, we have more classes [which] may impact the buildings in some way. We have to be careful that we have enough room to provide space for these additional classes. [Also] the lower the class size, the more teachers we [will] need."
"We have to look at grades kindergarten through six," said Mr. Weinick, "and see what it will cost, how we can afford it and what the ramifications are." He added that in the New York City school system, an "average fourth grade class can have anywhere from 27 to 33 children."
The Board of Education will vote on Dr. Smith's proposal to reduce the class size policy for fourth graders at its Tuesday, August 22 meeting.
Should the issue be approved by the board, the number of students allowed per fourth grade in the Merrick School District will immediately be reduced from 27 to 25 and a fourth section will be added at the Roland Chatterton School for the 2000-2001 school year.
Whether or not the district's entire class size policy should be re-evaluated and sent back to the policy committee will also be determined at this time.
