On the Effect of Workload in English Classes

1983 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Denver, Colorado

Background Since the 1920s English educators have affirmed that English students would be best served if their teacher met no more than 100 students a day.  In 1976, the National Council of Teachers of English established as policy "that full-time English teachers [in secondary schools] be assigned a daily teaching load of no more than 100 students."  However, most secondary English teachers continue to instruct more than that number.           Recent publicized statements on workload have provided contradictory or inconclusive findings; consequently, educational decision makers attempting to reduce workloads have been unable to justify their actions with supportive documentation.  Be it therefore Resolution Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English establish a task force to summarize existing research on the relationship of workload to teaching and learning; and           that this task force propose additional research if needed.