Florida voting on capping class size

Analysis: In Florida a ballot initiative is being voted on that will lower class sizes to 28 students in K-3, 22 students in grades 4-8, and 25 students in high school. At least 40 states have made failed attempts to lower class size in recent years. In 1996, California limited class size to 20 students in K-3. The program cost too much and was eventually cut from the budget. Florida is the first state to actually vote on class size. And it appears that it will pass the bill. Democratic Sen. Kendrick Meek of Miami leads the campaign to lower class size. Governor Jeb Bush opposes the bill and says taxes will go up and that education will be hurt. His opponent Bill McBride supports the bill and has offered a $2.8 billion plan to build 300 new schools in 5 years. Supporters of the bill have raised $1.4 million through various organizations.

Opinion: I think that we should pay more taxes to support our schools. Most of our politicians are idiots anyway, so we shouldn't be fooled by their promises. We need to put our money where our mouths are and spend money on education. One class size initiative isn't going to solve our problems. It is going to take a concerted effort by everybody to fix what's wrong with the system. We are always forced to cut budgets for education in favor of business interests or social security, or almost any other reason. This is a great opportunity, but we cannot do what California did, and dive into this headfirst. The politicians don't like the class-size amendment because it forces their hand on education. We have to realize that they will do whatever they can to negate this amendment. If we aren't willing to pay for education, who is?

Reflection Question: How do you think lowered class sizes will affect education?

Answer: I don't really think that it will help education that much, but it will force us to build more schools and train and hire more teachers. It will not help directly, but it will get us going in the right direction. Lowered class sizes are only a beginning; they are not the final answer.

Submitted by: Matthew Waddell, Florida Atlantic University
Source:Associated Press, November 11, 2002, Ken Thomas