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Helping You Make Sense of Schooling Today

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Why We Need Small Schools

Nationwide, and in my home state of Delaware, there is an enormous amount of discussion going on about the public schools.

          For other reasons too, but especially in reaction to the epidemic of school violence, many people are calling for changes in the way we educate children. There are a host of ideas being debated, everything from ending government involvement in schooling to increasing government control.

          There is very little agreement on many proposed changes, but in my research on educational issues I have encountered two recurring themes. Everyone from Hillary Clinton to George W. Bush are calling for smaller, more personal, more responsive learning places, and for kids to have stronger ties to adults.

          The consensus on these themes is why I was surprised to learn of local proposals to expand already large schools in our neighborhood. The desire to modernize and update is understandable. These schools, for instance, were designed before computers came into use. However, the renovations committee wants to expand our elementary school from 300 to 600, and the High School from 1800 to 2200. All residents where similar proposals are in front of school committees should think long and hard before agreeing to enlarge these schools. To do so at this time would be the opposite of what most experts advise and what common sense tells us. Children are unique special human beings, who have individual needs.

          There are academic reasons to maintain small schools as well. Susan Galleti is an expert on school size with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Galleti says, "While not all small schools are the best and some large schools are excellent, overall, smaller schools are demonstrating better results, and small size facilitates a school's ability to reform. While it doesn't ensure success, it allows a school much greater ability to achieve success. Small schools, when effective, resemble communities rather than bureaucracies."

          Galleti argues that school size is a factor not only in achievement and a positive school climate, but in encouraging co-curricular participation and maintaining an environment of equity for all children in opportunity and programs. The bigger the school, the greater the chance some kids may become alienated. The bigger the school, the harder it is for kids to get that spot on the basketball team, or part in the school play. The bigger the school, the harder it is for parents to get involved.

          Modernization and school size are often confused but are two different issues. Alvin Toffler, in The Third Wave, predicted the trend away from factory-model schools and towards the kind of "electronic cottage" type customized schools that computers make possible. The number of private and religious schools in Delaware, most of which have smaller student bodies on average (between 100 and 500 students), has increased 27% to 333. Home schooling is on the rise too, nationwide.

          Clearly there is a growing demand for manageably sized schools and more options for parents. Work with your school officials to help them see the wisdom in the need for small schools.

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