Educational Media Reviews Online

In Learning by Numbers a British elementary school in Staffordshire, England tests the validity of an American research study which found significant differences and effects in young children educated in smaller classrooms. Castlechurch Primary School is the setting for the much shorter study based on the STAR Project (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio Project).

Initiated ten years ago in the state of Tennessee, the original STAR Project study involved large scale participation of over 7,000 elementary children at a cost of over $12 million dollars. For a period of four years, grade levels were divided into 3 classrooms with two distinct sizes - one consisting of 15 students and two of 25 students. During this time, each student's progress was charted and examined closely. At the conclusion of four years, students in the smaller classes of 15 were integrated into larger classes. The students were continuously followed through high school and reported as consistently outscoring their peers in academic achievement. During interviews Dr. Helen Pate-Bain, Founder of the STAR Project, explains the basic concepts of the program and the reasoning behind it to the group of educators involved in piloting the shorter term study in Britain.

The class of one of the more experienced teachers at Castlechurch Primary School, Cath Bates, was the major focal group of the documented study. Interactions between Bates and her original class of 31 students were shown as a comparison to the more extensively filmed smaller class of fifteen. Several Head Teachers (the equivalents of U.S. principals) and teachers were interviewed for their reactions and opinions regarding the success, failure, or workability of the smaller class sizes in the growing British school system. Ms. Bates' students also were questioned as to how they felt about the smaller class setting.

Though both studies indicated that smaller classes did enhance students' performance, self-esteem, and overall attitude toward education, Learning by Numbers concluded by raising several negating points that, as one teacher described, "make this a utopian theory," unrealistic in today's financially constricted society.

The cinematography was excellent with ever changing subjects to film and varying camera positions to keep the audience involved. Captioning, such as the program title and the names and titles of those being interviewed, flashed up quickly and might be missed by viewers taking notes. It also should be noted, the beginning educational levels of the children involved in both studies were not clearly stated - this reviewer assumes the level fell between Kindergarten and Second grades.

This program would be of interest to both practicing and prospective teachers, as well as parents concerned about the benefits of smaller classes on children's education. Recommended.