For many years, educators have debated the effects of class size and school size on
student learning. The class size debate
centers on the number of students a teacher can work with effectively in any given class period. The school size issue focuses on whether smaller schools encourage optimal student
learning and development and how small a "small school" must be to produce such
effects. By looking at articles and texts on the subject, this paper examines why issues of class and school size have gained prominence in recent years. It looks at what the research says and finally shows what the author's experience has led him to believe about the impact of class and school size on teaching and learning.