Opinion: 60 cupcakes: A glimpse into overcrowding in Alaska’s schools

Has been updated: 35 few minutes ago release date: 35 few minutes ago

My wife and I recently visited two first-grade classrooms at Anchorage Hillside Elementary School with 60 cupcakes to celebrate our twins’ birthdays. In past years, we would not have brought in this many students. However, we knew that the class size in our school was steadily increasing, so we did not want it to turn out that there were not enough students. As I made my way through the crowded hallways to reach my separate classrooms, I couldn’t help but admire the resilience and dedication of the teachers and staff working tirelessly under difficult circumstances.

I was very inspired by seeing the teachers in action. They are masters of their craft. Reinforce the rhythm and routine of the day, despite the wiggly youngster’s desire for sweet treats. Although both teachers are skilled, they had to creatively manage a space that was too small for their students. There wasn’t enough space for the typical student desks I remember from school. The students sat at a communal table that was large enough for each student to write on a full sheet of paper. There’s no elbow room here. If your left-handed and right-handed students start bumping into each other while writing, you probably need to adjust the seating assignments. I’m sure my kids have more personal space in airplane seats than they do at their desks. His one of the “desks” was actually a portable picnic table for toddlers, shared by four 6 or her 7 year old kids. Considering the freshman is about 4 feet tall, I was surprised he could still do the job. I believe this picnic table was intended as a “temporary fix” for worn-out district furniture, but lack of funds made it a permanent solution.

At first, I couldn’t understand why there were so many things in the hallway. Later, I noticed that there was too much equipment in the hallway because there were too many students for the allotted storage space in the class for storing coats, boots, shoes, and backpacks. Teachers tried to make the most of the situation by hanging command hooks in the hallways to hang coats. However, this example clearly highlights that the class for the youngest students (much less the oldest students) was not intended to be so overcrowded.

Crowded classrooms are not only uncomfortable, but can also hinder learning. Old, mismatched furniture isn’t just an eyesore. It is a symbol of neglect. How can we help children reach their full potential in such an environment? How can we provide the quality education we deserve?

As I left the school with my twins in tow, I couldn’t shake a mixture of deep sadness and immense respect for the staff who face such adversity every day. Our schools and teachers are already being asked to do too much. And our school districts are warning that without major changes in funding from Congress, the situation is only going to get worse. This is a journey where we have watched from the sidelines as our teachers played the role of ‘heroes’ and somehow managed to keep the children happy and learning. This experience has revealed the harsh reality that our public schools are in dire need of more funding.

However, amidst these challenges, there are also rays of hope. Imagine what these dedicated educators can accomplish with the right resources! Imagine a classroom with enough space for every child to learn comfortably and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that encourages rather than hinders education. This is not an unattainable and ambitious dream, but an achievable goal that requires our collective action and support. Let us not forget the challenges we parents faced during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 remote learning process. Obviously that experience taught us the importance of teachers and classrooms. And they need our support.

I urge our communities, policymakers and all stakeholders to consider the important role that education plays in shaping the future of our children. Rather than patching cracks, let’s rebuild the foundations for a brighter, more hopeful future. Our teachers and staff have demonstrated their dedication and resilience. Now is the time to show them our support and commitment. Our educators tell us what we need. The $1,400 increase per student requires Base Student Allocation funds.

Let us embark on this journey together, not as passive observers, but as active participants in building a better future for our children, our heroes. Let’s make the story of our public schools a story of triumph, not a story of unrealized potential.

Dr. Cody Chip, He is a parent of three elementary school students, a licensed psychologist, and a small business owner in Anchorage.

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