Complete 5 pages APA formatted article: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Smaller Class over a Larger One.

Complete 5 pages APA formatted article: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Smaller Class over a Larger One. Among the most important issues that have been studied by educational reformists and researchers is the importance of having a smaller class size. According to Blatchford et al (2007), the size of a class is a very important indicator of the academic achievement of a class, student and school. Blatchford et al (2007) further indicate that academic performance is greatly enhanced by a small size in a classroom. This view by Blatchford et al (2007), on the size of the classroom, has made class reduction become an important aspect of education reforms in various countries around the globe. According to Kryder (2007), in a small class, each student is able to naturally benefit from the increased attention that they get from the teachers and the individualized instruction. Furthermore, a small class is associated with increased student motivation as well as improved discipline in the classroom. The effect of this is improved teacher morale resulting in improved student academic achievement (Cuseo, 2007).

Class reduction reforms have been able to attract political weight and backing in various countries (Chingos & Whitehurst, 2011). In the United States of America, class size has been used as a potential indicator of school decline. Milesi & Gamoran (2006) acknowledges that class size can impact on the teachers’ morale, especially where the class has been allowed to increase up to a certain level where even more qualified and experienced teachers have difficulty when it comes to maintaining order in the class and providing targeted help. This has been blamed for the declining performance in some schools

The effect of the class size on relationships in a class is another debate that has attracted varied opinions over the years (Blatchford, Bassett, & Brown, 2005). According to Blatchford, Bassett & Brown (2011), students feel more comfortable in a smaller class than a bigger one.&nbsp.