Overcrowded classrooms cause issues early on
Gazette/GBT.org file photo/HEBA BOUNAR
Visual and performing art elective class numbers are suffering in the wake of academic pressure.
With the growing number of students on Granite Bay High’s campus, it’s no surprise that classroom sizes are beginning to expand as well.
As certain classes develop a higher demand, students often find themselves in full classrooms holding more than 40 students.With the standard teacher-to-student ratio being around 30-to-one, it is understandable why students might feel uneasy.
Correspondingly, students and teachers are expressing concerns for the new expectations within these class settings.
Kavya Krishnan is a sophomore taking her first Advanced Placement classes. Being in an overcrowded AP Physics 1 class, she is left feeling a little intimidated as a result of growing competition.
“I’ve noticed that students, including myself, feel uncomfortable asking certain questions about certain subjects since there is such a large crowd in the classroom,” Krishnan said. “The pressures have increased because there are so many people … and I’m only a sophomore with a lot of seniors and juniors in my class.”
Due to the number of students teachers are now responsible for, it is also noticeable that the amount of available one-on-one time with teachers has taken a toll.
Senior Taylor Harris understands that Grizz Time and after-school hours are helpful for working on personal development, however, she still said the time is limited.
During Grizz Time, because there is a surplus of students, it can be difficult even then to get that one-on-one time because a student may have an issue that takes 15 minutes when there is already a line of other students trying to talk to (the teacher).”
Among the classrooms suffering from enlarged class-sizes, the math department is possibly struggling the most.
Following the sudden resignation of math teacher Denise Kraft one day before school started, other teachers such as Katherine Farias have filled the gap by giving up their preparation period to teach another class.
While being given another set of students was stressful at first, Farias said she and her fellow math teachers were able to accommodate students in the best way possible.
Although students and teachers might be stuck with the inconvenience of large class sizes, the difficulties counselors face to organize these classes according to student preferences is often forgotten.
Counselor Tiffani Gieck said she certainly recognizes the disadvantages of overcrowded classrooms, but she also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing student needs to take part in desired classes.
“Each class is given a cap size,” Gieck said, “meaning how many students are able to fit whether it’s facility-wise, safety-wise, sometimes depending on resources such as computers or equipment, and once those classes are at their cap, we are not able to overload.
“However, with that being said, we have new students continuing to enroll at GBHS. We definitely have to guarantee them a space and a home, and with that, we hope as the days and weeks progress, things are going to even out.”
While counselors do try to accommodate with the number of students trying to get into preferred classes, often too many students are left out once the capacity size has been reached.
Sophomore Mehar Rangi is among those students who create a four-year plan that must include specific courses in order to satisfy their needs. She worries that with a lack of space within some classes, students will be forced to take other courses they did not initially want.
“The idea of not getting into a certain class because of the surplus of students already enrolled is absolutely devastating to some students,” Rangi said. “There’s no doubt that the bitterness and regret in losing one class will have a negative impact on their outlook of school life.
“When you’re a high schooler, the smallest inconvenience is another straw weighing on (your) back, and sometimes, this can lead to the final blow.”
Heba, a senior, is one of the editors-in-chief, and this is her third year on the Gazette staff.
