By Jena Olson
As part of The AjA Project PhotoCity program, students at Crawford High School spent time using cameras to examine factors at their school that affect their overall health. This week we’re showcasing a photo essay by student Hawa, 18. She used her photo essay as an opportunity to highlight the issue of overcrowded classes in her high school.
Hawa focused on the problem of classroom overcrowding because “when there are a lot of students the teacher can’t see what is going on with the rest of the students.” She said she feels that the more one-on-one time teachers can have with their students, the more the students will actually be able to understand their school work.
If Hawa could make a change at Crawford, she said she would ask the administration to hire more teachers for the student body.
“This picture take place at the school. There are student going to school. It is in the morning. Parent take there kids to learn. I care because student need to learn.” -Hawa
“The student in class. Some student are working and some aren’t working. The student rises her hand to ask a question and the teacher don’t have time to help once at all. I care because I want one on one with my teacher when I understand something. I care because it give the teacher time to help all the student not only one student.” -Hawa
“The teacher and the students. The teacher is helping the student and the other student are doing something each in the classroom. When there are a lot of student the teacher can’t see what is going on the the rest of the student. I care because less student will help the teacher to see what is going on with the student.” -Hawa
“Many life in one spot!? It mean there are a lot of student in the same class. Is like there is not enough space for the student. Student care because if there are too many student, they wouldn’t learn. People should care because we as all student need help to have more teacher.” -Hawa
“Student are in the picture. The teacher is helping with her work because the teacher have time to help his student. The teacher is have one on one time with the student because it help the student to learn and understand. I care because I love to have one on one with teacher.” -Hawa
Crawford faculty and students argued last year smaller groups improve student achievement. Their argument was in response to the school district’s move to revert the “small schools” campus, which split the student body into smaller cohorts with their own principals and administrative staff, to a comprehensive high school.
Research on the impact of small class sizes is inconclusive. Evidence supporting them is largely anecdotal. The majority of Crawford’s small schools hadn’t yet seen increases in test scores before returning to a traditional campus this year. Students and teachers instead pointed to data showing there were fewer absences and more students continuing on to college under the small schools model.