I go to Jackson Street School and I will be a fifth grader next year. I do not think there should be two fifth grade classes. I think the city should not make budget cuts. The schools need more money. Because if there were 27 fifth graders per class, each student would not get the individual attention they deserve. Also, every year since kindergarten my grade has had three classes, and that has worked out fine. But even so, the teachers still had to work extra to plan the lesson. Narrowing it to two classes will do nothing to help that. If you were a fifth grade teacher, would you want to work on 27 report cards for 27 individual students? Or have to look at and assess that many tests every time there was a test or assessment? Not to mention just regular daily work. Plus, two classes would only make more people leave the school. So you can see why I think two fifth grade classes would not be a good idea.

Ruby Theberge-Goode, fourth grader

Northampton