So, the problem with ratios is that they were created with an ideal classroom in mind. 20-24 kiddos, while not easy, is doable if everyone speaks English, is an average learner, and comes from a home where they got some basic social and educational skills before starting school.

However, that's not what most modern classrooms look like. In that 24, you'll have a few IEPs with accoms to put in place; you'll have several student who speak English as a second language (if at all); you'll have students who were never taught to hold a pencil or do basic counting (speaking of K kiddos here). I once had 6 different first languages in my first grade classroom ... some of those students were also fluent in English, others were barely beginning to learn.

So now you're not just keeping 24 some kids on track. You're keeping 24 on track, but they're at 4-6 differnt reading levels, and you're teaching some of them English, and you're putting special eduation accoms in place for others, and you still have all the other curric requirements to do.

And therefore our current ratios are insane.