I am a teacher no longer applying my skills in New Zealand. I teach in a different country, in a private school where class sizes are capped at 20 students. 

From my outside perspective, I see that New Zealand is struggling to stop what seems like a Governmental view of applying a budget to each child. I feel that children are almost viewed as a product, rather than potential.

To develop potential we need smaller class sizes. I am a firm believer in this.

The Stuff Nation article, Halving class sizes: Impossible or vital?, mentions the value of developing relationships with the students, conducting and maintaining a constructivist, student-centered class in which pupils are able to share their knowledge and build new understanding through learning experiences.

This can only effectively happen with a class size that is less than what many schools obviously have to cope with.

A smaller class size helps provide the safe learning environment in which kids can be supported and feel as though they have a voice.

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