Editor’s Note: This article was completed on December 15, 2018
MCPS is building many new elementary schools, but what about when those kids grow up? There are overcrowded and deteriorating high schools already in the county.
Just recently, Bayard Rustin Elementary School opened for the first time since its construction. Among the twenty-nine projects Montgomery County has been working on, the new Elementary School in Rockville was one of thirteen undergoing construction plans for elementary school facilities. Although it is not unusual to see schools go under construction for renovation and expansion purposes, it is especially rare to see new schools being built. The rise of overcrowding in elementary schools has prompted Montgomery County to take steps toward new constructions. However, how will already overcrowded and deteriorating high schools accommodate new students?
A report by Montgomery County Public Schools notes that the City of Gaithersburg experienced overcrowding of more than 370 students in its elementary schools. Although building new infrastructure is cost draining and time-consuming, the effects of overcrowding are far more urgent. Looking at the issue from a logical perspective, overcrowding clearly results in larger classrooms. However, studies show that larger classrooms also have a psychological effect on teachers, which leads to substandard instructional planning.
Rather than focusing on the quality and effectiveness of the agenda, teachers are busy overseeing an overcrowded classroom. As a result, students are taught by low-quality and less thoughtful instructions. Moreover, teachers have less time to individually work with students that are struggling because they are too busy preventing the classroom environment from becoming chaotic due to a large number of students. Elementary school teachers are especially overwhelmed by large classrooms because younger students tend to be enthusiastic and spontaneous.
Regardless of whether or not new elementary schools should be built, the issue of overcrowding and deteriorating high schools should still be resolved. Both levels of education suffer from the issue of overcrowding and are equally important for the success of students. To address the issue of overcrowding and deteriorating high schools, Montgomery County Schools should expand and improve the infrastructure by allocating more money towards renovations.
Article by MoCo Student Staff writer Ellen Zhang of Churchill High School