Ashley Smith Juarez denies facts and evidence goes with her gut instead

In a times Union article about Duval County’s looming class size penalties, Mrs. Smith-Juarez said,: that there is no data suggesting a connection between class size and student performance.

The funny thing is, class size is the one reform with evidence that says it does work. Mrs. Smith-Juarez, who went to and taught at Bolles where class sizes are purposely kept small, is disregarding facts and evidence.  Apparently small classes were good enough for her but not for public school kids and teachers.

Furthermore last summer former Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson praised smaller classes as a co-factor for Florida’s improvement. 

I find the fact our educational leaders often disregard facts troubling.