What I learned from teaching for 36 years

Class size is vital, and so is the quality of teachers, writes Richard Bercuson.

The poster in my classroom was a photo of a bewildered looking gorilla slumped against a wall. The caption read, “Just when I thought I had all the answers, they changed the questions.”

Now on the outside peering in after 36 years of teaching in public and private schools, I confess I never had any answers. But I’m left with plenty of questions.

CLASS SIZE IS IMPORTANT

Call it common sense or just anecdotal evidence. Class size does make a difference. How come only teachers understand it?

My private-school experiences as a teacher and a student made it obvious. Then, too, parents pay for such an advantage (among other perceived ones). Is a teacher with 20 students more effective than one with 30? Enormously so, yes. Even teachers with average class-management skills are able to cope with smaller numbers. Individual attention when learning anything is beneficial. Are group golf lessons better than one-on-ones with a pro?

The public cries “Spoiled teachers!” when unions attempt to trim class sizes. Then parents whine their offspring’s unique needs aren’t being met. Thankfully, those needs will be addressed because your child happens to have been triaged as the 29th of 34 needing attention. That day.

STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF UNIONS

As the union rep in two schools for 15 years, I have a sense of teacher unions’ immense impact. To their credit, they have provided Ontario teachers some of the best working conditions and salaries on the planet. Well done, and I thank you. But — but! — could you please address the thorny issue of how to counsel poor teachers into another profession? This is the one instance where the union does its members and, most importantly, the students a disservice by fighting to keep people in a profession they’re ill-suited for. I’ve wondered how they passed their education faculty practicums, not to mention who did the first hires.

GUIDANCE GOLD

High school guidance counsellors have remarkably undervalued roles. Classroom teachers will readily share how many more students these days require special attention for a wide array of reasons. It’s impossible to

Is a teacher with 20 students more effective than one with 30? Enormously so, yes. Individual attention when learning anything is beneficial.

effectively cope with them all. Guidance and resource teachers keep kids at risk from becoming unglued, point others in positive directions, and try to ensure that every child leaving high school does so on his toes, not his heels. So how do we improve the ratio of guidance people to students?

SCHOOL LIFE

Why would anyone go into teaching and NOT wish to be involved in anything beyond the classroom? Teachers need to model for students how to contribute both to society and their own sense of self-worth. While forcing it on teachers is absurd, if we have the right people in the profession, we won’t have to ask, will we?

TECHNOLOGY — WITH A CAVEAT

Though I love gadgets, is it just an old-fashioned me who believes that no online courses, webinars, or textbooks transferred to digital can replace live interaction with a teacher? All the same, those who don’t embrace technology aren’t doing their 21st-century students any favours. Schools and teachers need to make it possible to give students a baseline chance to function in a world of occupations that may not yet exist. When I began teaching, the Gestetner machine and its acrid smell were at the forefront of technology. Then the world improved thanks to the overhead projector.

I’ll figure out more answers once someone tells me what the new questions are.