Posted by Ed at AFT

I once read something out loud in my 11th grade creative writing class that led my teacher to suggest that I read Kurt Vonnegut. When I sat down with a copy of Sirens of Titan, a lot of things about writing clicked in ways they hadn't before. That kind of insight and ability to make connections for students is a hallmark of really good teaching.

I’ve sometimes wondered what Mr. McCourt has been doing since I left high school.  According to Edwize, it turns out that after bouncing from one thing to another he’s landed a post as Chairman of New Yorkers for Smaller Classes.  Good for him.

The cool talking point on class size reduction right now is that it will dilute teacher quality in urban districts. The California example is evidence of this. When a statewide program was put in place there, the wealthier districts hired qualified teachers out of Los Angeles. They also hired the bulk of the qualified new teachers. This did create a real problem in LA. This is a concern, but only when it is done so that the rich get richer.

If Mr. McCourt was chairing an effort to reduce classes across New York State, I’d be worried.  But instead he is working on New York City alone. This changes the equation dramatically.  Targeted class size reduction is a reform that can really help poor children, as shown by evaluations of Wisconsin’s SAGE program.

Just this week, Illinois provided a good example of how to do this right. Gov. Rod Blagojevich just signed a law creating a class size reduction pilot program. The legislative language indicates that those  funds will go to reduce classes in “those schools that are on the State Board of Education Early Academic Warning List or the academic watch list.”  The bill was in part the result of the advocacy of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Click here for Mr.McCourt's thoughts on the subject. And also check out my colleague Michele’s thoughts as well (even if she doesn't have a Pulitzer).