[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Fact and Supposition

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Fact and Supposition
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1228793900.shtml


   The Robbinsdale Area Schools is again looking at closing school
   buildings, as it should even though the Referendums both passed.
   Enrollment is continuing to decline, perhaps to as low as 11,000 ten
   years out. Current enrollment is about 12,300. Peak enrollment was
   about 28,100 in 1971.
   These numbers come from a (preliminary) contracted study, presented at
   an all day School Board Work Session this past Saturday. Actually,
   most of this time was spent reviewing the (preliminary) findings of a
   corresponding contracted study of the district's buildings. There are
   always those who gripe at such expenditures, but I'm all for these
   studies. They weren't expensive and have provided a solid basis -
   facts - for the discussions to come.
   These findings will be presented to the public at two scheduled
   meetings next week, [1]Tuesday west and Thursday east.
   The battle shaping up is again: neighborhood schools vs. lower class
   sizes. We now know quite a bit more about the former, both
   operationally and financially. Unfortunately, we know relatively
   little about the latter. It's not a level debating field.
   Instead, we have little more than supposition that the benefits of
   lower class sizes are significant. Are they? Which is the better
   investment of the $800,000 involved: keeping a neighborhood school
   open or slightly lowering the class sizes in the remaining schools?
   To date, District 281 considers the the case closed, that the benefits
   of smaller class sizes are obvious and axiomatic. Apparently they have
   to be, because there sure doesn't seem to be much actual evidence, you
   now, like a contracted study.
   Maybe I'm just a poor web surfer. Maybe I keep buying the wrong books
   and reading the wrong blogs. Maybe I should listen to MPR more. So if
   anyone can show me the evidence I've somehow missed, that there are
   indeed credible, applicable studies in support of smaller class sizes,
   I'll be happy to admit I am wrong. Part of my re-education should
   include an explanation of why it didn't help the Kansas City Schools
   or why the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also seems unconvinced.
   Before the District makes any further decisions, I'd like to see them
   spend a little more on a study quantifying the benefits of closing
   still more schools to lower class sizes.

References

   1. http://www.rdale.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=80937