Creativity, not class size

There’s been a lot of talk recently about whether large or small class sizes make a difference in learning (“Romney stubs toe in flawed education speech,” Tuesday, The Forum).

When I taught social studies in elementary school (back in the ’80s), I used the peer pressure existing among young people in a positive way to make learning fun and challenging. several records that prove Romney destroyed jobs along with people’s lives and careers. If these accusations are not correct, then the Romney campaign should be able to prove that. That’s fair. For Romney supporters to accuse the president of running unfounded, negative attack ads is ridiculous. Romney destroyed his opponents in the primary with negative ads. Now that the president is attacking Romney, his crowd is crying foul.

Advice to Romney: This is the big-boy league. Stop complaining — compete or quit. John Lockett

Tulsa

I divided the class into groups of four or five and held contests. Students in each group helped each other learn so that their group would win. Any teacher can do this with any subject in a room of any size.

Create homework groups and see who comes out ahead in homework assignments. Giving group exams was fun!

Keep group grades separate from individual grades so group grades won’t count academically. Don’t fail any group that shows effort.

Amazing things begin to happen: Fast learners in each group patiently help the slower ones. Everyone learned in my class. No one failed individually or as a group.

Be creative. Babu G. Ranganathan

Boyertown, Penn.