posted May 18, 2008
While I commend the school board for its decision to bless our community of East Ridge with a new elementary school, I must challenge its decision to construct a facility large enough to house some 800 children five to 10 years of age.
While the great majority of the school systems across this wonderful country of ours have reached the conclusion that small schools are better for children of this age, the Hamilton County School Board concludes that East Ridge’s parents and children should not benefit from this fact.
Why?
Vernon Liston
* * *
Schools are much better when they are smaller. That is why many large high schools have gone to smaller academies inside the school. These makes it more like being in a school of 200-300 not 1,500-2,000+. However, looking at the Hamilton County Schools, and having formerly taught in Hamilton County, I see that not many schools are in real danger or becoming overcrowded.
Several middle schools (Tyner, Orchard Knob, Dalewood, East Lake to name a few) have populations of less than 400 students. High schools like Red Bank, Hixson, and Central are just barely near the 1,000 student mark. Tyner Academy is less than 600 for a high school. Then there are the 6-12 schools. Howard is right at 1,000. Sale Creek and Lookout Valley are under 500 for six grades worth of students.
It's not a great idea to combine schools to wind up with a supergiant of 2,000 or more kids, but if by combining schools you can have middle schools of around 700-800 or high schools of 1,200-1,500 then yes it would be more economically efficient. A school system of less than 40,000 students should not have nearly 90 schools. In most cases districts with that number of students maintain around 40-50.
Ben Briere
Teacher- Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, Tx.
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