Now the plain fact is that pupil-teacher ratios have been falling throughout this century.
But the schools they attend also tend to have the highest rates of poverty, larger pupil-teacher ratios and bigger schools.
Although the pupil-to-teacher ratio has been cut nearly 40% over the past 40 years, millions of our children have not benefited.
But its extra provisions, which make pupil-teacher affairs illegal, have been described by the headteachers' union as a "sledgehammer to crack a nut".
And in any case, education researchers have been unable to produce any consistent evidence that low pupil- teacher ratios actually do improve student performance.
Pupil-teacher ratios have decreased, but the ratio of pupils to the number of administrators and other professionals employed in the school system has decreased faster--from 25.3-to-1 in 1955-56 to 15.9-to-1 in 1985-86.
After the case of head teacher Majorie Evans - who was suspended for 18 months before being cleared of assaulting a pupil - there was some political will to address the issue, Mr Hytch told delegates.
But Grutter's longevity has been in doubt since its author, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, was succeeded by Justice Samuel Alito, who joined the court's four other conservatives in a 2007 ruling that forbade public-school districts from promoting diversity through race-conscious pupil-assignment plans.
Ysgol Croesor - hit by dwindling pupil numbers - has been given a helping hand by trustees of the Italianate village Portmeirion.
BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | North West Wales | Lifeline for rural school
The teenager - known only as Pupil L - worked under the supervision of a retired teacher and was allowed no contact with other children and break and mealtimes, the House of Lords heard on Monday.
The standards are high and kept high, the teachers are more 'old school' with proper discipline standards and teacher-pupil relationships rather than pally-pally garbage.
BBC: NEWS | Have Your Say | Are children's reading skills good enough?
Unions claims poor pupil behaviour - along with a heavy workload - is the main factor cited by teachers who decide to leave the profession.
The department also quotes research from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the United States which has argued that good teaching is vital to pupil achievement - and as such it is important to be able to measure what represents effective teaching.
With property taxes rising across the country, we took a look at per-pupil spending in public schools and weighed it against student performance--SAT scores, SAT participation rates and graduation rates.
With property taxes rising across the country, we took a look at per-pupil spending in public schools and weighed it against student performance--college entrance exam scores (SAT or ACT, depending on which is more common in the state), exam participation rates and graduation rates.
Kimani Maruge is an 85-year-old Kenyan, a veteran of the Mau Mau uprising against British colonialism in the 1950s, and, as of last year, a full-time pupil at school in rural south-west Kenya.
The 1, 330-pupil school hopes to reopen next week, with some classes working four-day weeks because of the shortage of space.
Off-site pupil referral units will also be supported, providing a full-time education for youngsters with behavioural problems.
The county council said there were no children in the 90-pupil school on Monday.
Though we have among the highest per-pupil expenditures, we have among the lowest academic performance levels.
They criticised "systemic weaknesses" in leadership at the 1, 300-pupil school and low attendance levels.
The 900-pupil school was shut late on Friday after a structural report identified the material.
The state pre-schools, however, fall short of set standards for class size and staff-to-pupil ratios.
California's schools rank 47th in academic achievement despite per-pupil spending in the top third of the nation.
The 191-pupil school was threatened with closure after an emergency inspection by education watchdog Ofsted uncovered serious failings.
The 1, 330-pupil school, which was due to resume classes on Monday, has warned parents that the temporary arrangements may continue until half-term.
The number of foreign trainers has been doubled, improving those instructor-pupil ratios.
The report by Santia Asbestos Management Limited had said airborne fibres at the 900-pupil school were 10 times higher than the accepted levels.
Education Secretary Michael Gove said more male teachers were needed but they were put off by worries that teacher-pupil contact was a "legal minefield".
The initial report by Santia Asbestos Management Limited had said airborne fibres at the 900-pupil school were 10 times higher than the accepted levels.
BBC: Asbestos: More concerns over Cwmcarn High School future
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