Kindergartens too Crowded for New Students

By Kayla Stoner
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Viewed 682 times.

District 65 schools expect an increase in the number of kindergarten enrollments next year. Oakton Elementary isn't one of them -- at least not yet. But the district is considering options which could move students from other school zones to less crowded schools like Oakton.

Teachers say larger classrooms will distract children -- especially in classes with special needs students.

"It becomes more stimulating, more exciting, more stuff going on," said kindergarten and special education teacher Ellen Breeden. "It can trigger the special needs kids' anxiety or upset."

Breeden also said that small study groups, an important learning mechanism for students, do not function as well in a larger class.

"Kids learn more when they learn from each other -- when they construct their own knowledge and their own ways and make it relevant for themselves," she said.

In order to avoid increasing class sizes, the school board may also eliminate language immersion and arts programs in the regular schools. Parents interested in those programs would have to drive to the magnet schools - a long commute from most residential areas.

"Parents would like their children to go to their home schools or to a school close by," said assistant principal Jerry Succes. "To move them to a magnet school wouldn't be a bad thing, but most of the kids would not be going to school with kids in their neighborhood."

But there is a limit to the number of students who can enroll at magnet schools as well. Enrollment is currently capped at 23 students per classroom. School board secretary Pat Markham said that number will probably increase to 27 students next year.

Students will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Succes said this ensures equality in the enrollment process.

"If you say you're going to do it randomly, people don't always trust you," he said. "They'll say you have the inside scoop, somebody knows your kid and lets you in. First-come, first-serve is usually the best way to do it."

Succes said there is no perfect solution to this over-crowding problem in the short run. But the school board is looking at options that will serve students better in the long run. These include building a new school or adding additions to the current District 65 schools.

The school board will discuss their options further at their next meeting on March 2nd.