
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, November 6, 1995                   TAG: 9511060011
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: HUGH KEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPOSING PUBLIC-SCHOOL MYTHS

REGARDING public-education policy: Somebody said, ``It's not what we don't know that hurts us, it's what we know that ain't so.''

We ``know'' there are too many pupils per class in public schools for effective teaching and learning to take place. It isn't so. Most people guess the numbers to be 25 to 30 pupils per class. The truth is it's half that, on average.

Pupil-teacher ratios are much smaller than taxpayers have been led to believe. In Roanoke, the ratios are 13.6 (kindergarten through sixth grade) and 12.2 (seventh through 12th grade). Roanoke County numbers are 15.7 (kindergarten through sixth grade) and 10.1 (seventh through 12th grade). The Fifth Planning District figures are 14.9 and 11.1, while Virginia averages 15.6 and 12.3. There's no evidence that even smaller classes will improve academic achievement.

We ``know'' that all public schools are stuffed with pupils, operating far above capacity. It isn't so. Enrollments are actually down from years past, and changes on the supply side of education are likely to continue the trend.

Enrollment in Roanoke public schools sank from 14,079 in '86-'87 to 12,809 in '92-'93. Roanoke County figures were 13,639 to 13,447. Fifth Planning District enrollment fell from 40,769 to 38,801. Virginia numbers went from 1.077 million to 1.014 million in the same period, the last for which published data was readily available in local libraries.

Crowded schools result from rigid adherence to old assignment maps and bus routes. A given school may be crowded, while another sits half empty a few miles away. Changing school-bus assignments could solve the problem without massive construction spending.

Innovations in education could also help. Such concepts as year-round schooling, block scheduling and longer school days could better utilize existing facilities. Charter schools, tuition tax credits, education vouchers, enhanced home schooling or other innovations could also delay or eliminate the need for additional construction.

We ``know'' that teachers deserve higher salaries. Some do and some don't. With public instruction in the stranglehold of the largest union in Virginia, effectiveness and efficiency take back seats to special-interest union power.

With about 65,000 teachers in Virginia public schools, averaging about $32,800 in salaries for 10-month contracts, teachers only get about 39 percent of spending on public schools. Increased spending on more buildings and even smaller class sizes diverts funds from teachers. Year-round schools, assuming the same monthly pay, could take teacher salaries to nearly $40,000. Innovations and creative options could reduce public-school populations.

We should make public-education policy based on public interest, not on any union's special interests.

Hugh Key is a businessman and chairman of the Roanoke County Republican Party.

by CNB