Massive class sizes spark alarm

Up to 47 students for some classes in high schools

Class-size numbers released by Alberta Education this week confirm as many as 45 to 47 students in several core high school courses across Calgary, bringing the growing problem of overcrowding to a boiling point.

In response to this spring ’s scathing auditor general report criticizing the province for failing to monitor class sizes in spite of more than $293 million in funding last year, Alberta Education posted the 201718 data to be more transparent.

But the information reveals an even deeper problem for Grade 12 students unable to get support in university prerequisites and teachers struggling to manage overcrowded, complex classrooms, says Greg Jeffery, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

Core courses at the Calgary Board of Education, for instance, show class sizes as high as 47 students in Math 30-1 at Ernest Manning High School and Physics 30 at Crescent Heights High School, as well as 46 for Science 30 at Forest Lawn High School and 44 for Social Studies 30-1 at Robert Thirsk High School.

“Teaching is about developing relationships with students. But when you have 47 of them, that becomes really difficult,” Jeffery said, explaining that high school students are often left competing with other students to get extra help answering questions about an increasingly complex Grade 12 curriculum.

“Public education should never be about competing for a teacher’s attention.

“But if a student is not standing up for themselves they get missed, because other students are making sure they get to the teacher.”

Last February, auditor general Merwan Saher said the $2.7-billion program implemented to reduce class sizes since 2004 hasn’t worked and that there are no processes in place to figure out why.

Saher said parents deserve a full explanation of whether the investment of their tax dollars is making a difference.

Education Minister David Eggen says the province is being more transparent by reporting class-size data through a public portal.

“Our government understands that small class sizes mean more individual attention for students and better learning outcomes. That’s why we have prioritized keeping class sizes low, on average, by hiring new teachers, building new schools and investing in classroom supports.”

But Jeffery argues class size “average” means little when many high schools across the province show individual numbers well above 40.

Jeannie Everett, CBE superintendent of learning, said public schools use funding to support smaller K-3 class sizes.

“Core courses in high school are in high demand and principals make decisions based on a number of factors, including complexity of students, support staff such as educational assistants, and available space,” Everett said in an emailed statement.

“Class size is only one factor that may impact student results.”

In 2003, the Alberta Learning Commission recommended class sizes for high school grades be no larger than 27.

But even Grade 12 classrooms at Catholic high schools saw numbers significantly larger than that, with as many as 42 students in Math 30-1 at St. Mary’s High School.

Catholic board chair Cheryl Low says the Calgary Catholic School District is continuing to lobby the province to build more high schools at a time when some are operating at more than 100 per cent capacity. “We need ongoing support from the government for infrastructure so that students can go to school in the communities where they live.”

The class-size data comes only weeks after CBE trustee Lisa Davis asked for class-size numbers for core high school courses at a board meeting but was voted down by her colleagues after administrators said it would be too much work to find the data.

Davis had hoped to get the information during budget finalization in an effort to lobby the province for more classroom funding.

But Davis said this week she was surprised to see the class-size data posted by the province.

“I was surprised to see the classsize data I requested, but was voted down, is something we actually report on annually to the minister,” Davis said.

“My original request was in response to teacher feedback and parental concerns about class sizes their children were experiencing. Having this information helps inform the board as we make decisions about budgets and advocacy around education.”

Davis announced two weeks ago she would be seeking the nomination for the United Conservative Party in the riding of Calgary Bow.