I heard that class sizes at the Upper Grade Center are very big and not getting smaller. Instead of reducing class sizes teachers are beig paid to keep extra students. Some of the classes are so big that there aren't enough chairs. Does anyone know if this is true?
Yes, all of what you say is true. Our standard class size cap (max. number) at Waukegan is 35 (at the high school). Every other school district I know -- from Chicago, to others in Lake County, to Maywood -- has caps between 28 and 30 for their high schools. It boggles the mind. We would never expect people to be this packed in on the job, we should not accept it in our schools. The board and administration need to wake up and the union needs to STAND UP. The imposition of these huge classes does such a fundamental disservice to our children in SO MANY ways that I truely believe it to be unethical. What angers me is that we have done this by CHIOCE -- those who make these decisions have looked at this, know the alternatives, and still make the conscious choice to inflict this atrocious environment on our students. Inexcusable. :x
I hate to say I told you so but "I told you so" the Teachers' Contract only protected the Administration. Things at the High school have never been worse. Fights, kids wandering the halls, teacher moral... Yes, there are good things going on but for how long? I can't help but wonder why anyone who can afford to move would stay and make their kids attend the High School. Why doesn't our mayor step up like Mayor Daley did? Oh because he doesn't live in the Waukegan School District.
