Sept. 7, 2000
There's growing skepticism to claims that Utah's Republican leaders are really making education a priority.
Fellow Republicans, even education leaders, wonder whether education is just a political football.
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer has more.
M.G. Franco/Teacher: "I HAVE 32 STUDENTS THIS YEAR AND I'M EXPECTING ANOTHER, A 33RD."
Steve Taylor/Principal: "WE FIGURED OUR STAFFING THIS YEAR ON ABOUT 25 TO 1 ONE AND I'D SAY THAT'S THE AVERAGE."
It's the same all over Utah.
So imagine educator's reactions when Governor Leavitt and Republican Legislative leaders highlighted accomplishments during recent years and touted cutting class size as one of them.
Gov. Mike Leavitt: "IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, CLASS SIZES HAVE GONE FROM 23 TO 20."
M.G. Franco/Teacher: "NOT THIS SCHOOL. NOT THIS YEAR AT ALL."
"NOT IN MY EXPERIENCE."
"Q: HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CLASS OF 21?"
"I NEVER HAVE HAD ONE THAT SMALL, NO, NO NO."
Nadine Wimmer Reporting: "IN CROWDED CLASSROOMS ALL OVER UTAH, THE SENTIMENT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME-- SHOW ME A CLASS WITH 21 STUDENTS AND I'D LOVE TO TEACH IT!"
In fact, we called almost every school district in the state.
Hardly any have average class sizes at the Governor's numbers.
Republican claims on education are even frustrating fellow-republicans in education.
Lynn Davidson/Granite Board of Education: "WHAT THE PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS REAL NUMBERS. THEY'D LIKE TO WALK INTO A CLASSROOM AND SEE 20 STUDENTS AND NO MORE."
All agree, smaller class sizes and other goals are worthy aims, but a growing number are questioning the true intent of republican leadership.
"IT WASN'T BELIEVABLE, IT DIDN'T RING TRUE TO ME. IT WAS POLITICAL RHETORIC."
The legislature has allocated millions of dollars to reduce class size, and it has some.
But along the Wasatch, where the majority of students attend school, it's still tough to find any elementary schools where the average class size is 20.
