LETTER: Are crowded classrooms worth minimal savings?
April 7, 2025To the Community:
For those of you who think that closing elementary schools (for barely any savings) might be a good idea, please read.
I grew up in western New York. When I was in kindergarten (public school), we had a large class size. I remember that we had a piñata party. I remember that when the piñata broke and the candy spilled on the floor, I as a smaller-than-average little guy found myself crawling on the backs of all the other kids, a “sea of children” if you will, to try to get candy and of course, I didn’t get any. That is my only memory of kindergarten.
In first grade, I was struggling and could spell simple words like “the,” “mom,” or “dad.” About halfway through the year, my mother showed up at the classroom after school to talk to my teacher to tell her that she was transferring me to private school. After five months in the classroom, the teacher wasn’t sure which kid was me. At the cost of an arm and a leg, I went to private school through sixth grade. I showed immediate improvement, being able to spell words like “teacher,” “father” and “mother” by the end of the year. My teachers knew who I was and knew what my struggles were. They knew about my family. They knew what my interests were. The curriculum was not much different than public school. The classroom size was between 15-18 kids for sure (not 25) and that’s what mattered.
I went back to public school in seventh grade and I managed OK. However, I know for sure I would have struggled and not gotten what I needed. Mind you, I never required an IEP and considered myself average as a student throughout my academic career.
My son goes to Moretown Elementary School. All the faculty and staff know him by name. All of them. The class sizes are not low by any means. He gets the focus he needs. Same for my older daughter when she was there. We moved to Vermont in part for this learning environment.
If you think that closing elementary schools is a good idea, remember that if your school isn’t being closed, your school is taking on all the other kids from other elementary schools. There will be a SEA OF CHILDREN and your child may not get the focus they deserve and need.
Last point, and pay attention because this one is important. Is there any evidence whatsoever (peer-reviewed evidence is the gold standard) that closing an elementary school had a positive impact on the learning outcomes and communities in that school district?
I asked this question of Brigid Nease, former Harwood superintendent, back when they were originally exploring consolidation and she blathered on about her nine years in the district as all the evidence we needed.
Please get active. Sign petitions, write letters, attend peaceful protests, and attend school board meetings. Let’s get after the elected officials at the state level, too, as they are the ones who can make the biggest difference in resolving these problems.
In the meantime, my vote is for the status quo and upgrades to Harwood which are needed.
Daniel R. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Moretown