Mr. Haidemenos: 

We as parents are very concerned about the class sizes of the 1st grade both this year and in the future years. The classes are too large for our children and as a result the quality of education will suffer. 

Last year many students had to learn in front of screens at home, and in other settings. Even with heroic efforts by teachers, staff, and school leaders— many resulted in a “significant” learning loss, especially at the Kindergarten level. 

One teacher with 26 first graders will be hard pressed to meet students’ needs and provide quality instruction. Even the best educators should not be expected to teach classes this large. Many classes are made up of a diverse group of students’, including those with behavioral issues, learning disabilities and those who are more advanced ... all of which require individual attention that teachers cannot possibly provide with classes of these sizes.

According to this table provided by DESE, Seekonk 1st grade class sizes falls above the 95th percentile in comparison to other communities in Massachusetts. We as parents and tax payers are requesting the Seekonk School Department reevaluate and consider the needs of our students. We expect more from the Seekonk School Department and look forward to a resolution.

Thank you. 

Concerned Aitken 1st Grade Parents

Aitken.parents@gmail.com