Making the best of tough times

The average number of students per public school classroom in Hamilton County is rising as a result of tight budgets, school officials noted recently in an article in the Times Free Press.

Is that ideal? Of course not. In an ideal world, where money was no object, we would have well-paid, highly qualified teachers leading small classes of motivated students.

But money is an object - a big one. Our nation is in an economic crisis. Government coffers are far less full than they were during boom times. That means elected officials have to make hard choices about what will get funding.

For now, the money isn't available to keep class sizes down the way we'd like. So, lots of math and English classes at, for example, Central High School are nearing the 35-student maximum allowed by the state.

What to do? Well, clearly we hope for better times, and local developments such as the Volkswagen plant are boosting our economy. But we can't just throw up our hands in frustration until the full promise of economic development is realized and money is plentiful.

No one can snap his fingers and magically reduce class sizes. But there are things we can do.

Students can make the most of the academic opportunities presented to them. Teachers, while recognizing the difficulties imposed by larger classes, can work to provide the best learning environment possible. Administrators can impose the discipline necessary to maintain order in schools. And parents can partner with their children's teachers to be sure everyone is working toward the same goal.

Simplistic? Maybe a little. But shouldn't we all make the best of the situation as it is rather than just lament that it's not all it should be?

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