AFT Resolution

CLASS SIZE

WHEREAS, in many school systems the term "average class size" is used; and

WHEREAS, this average is arrived at by dividing the total enrollment by a number of "teachers" which may include some or all of the following: principals, assistant principals, counselors, nurses, audio-visual directors, librarians, supervisors, and other persons, some or all of whose time is assigned to duties other than classroom teaching; and

WHEREAS, the widespread practice of publicizing these ratios misleads the public as to actual class size:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers urge that the figures on class size used by school officials or given to the general public be realistic measures of the actual size of classes taught.

(1959)