Resources - Safety Info

Class Size
It is widely recognized that Science is a process and an activity fully as much as it is an organized body of knowledge and that, therefore, it cannot be learned in any deep and meaningful way by reading and discussion alone. The Ontario Ministry of Education "Science Curriculum Guideline Part l: Program Outline and Policy", l987, reiterates the need for all science courses to stress the importance of both process and content. Science teachers are directed to include certain policies when implementing the science program, including the following:

In science courses both substantive content and scientific processes are essential. Opportunities for student activities are provided in all courses described in the guidelines; in fact, many such activities are mandatory. The experimental nature of science is to be emphasized, since it is this characteristic that makes a dynamic process of learning.

STAO/APSO concurs that student experimentation is central to all science education. Further, STAO/APSO believes that in the interests of safety (and indeed for good educational reasons also), it is of paramount importance that science should be taught in reduced-size classes in laboratory facilities which are adequate for student practical work.

It is recognized that the optimum number of students in any science class depends on a number of factors including the age, ability and degree of responsibility of the students and the type of work being attempted. However, for most science classes, to increase the number above that recommended is to jeopardize the educational value of the science experimentation and inquiry. Furthermore, STAO/APSO believes that the risk to student safety and to expensive equipment escalates rapidly as the number of students in the laboratory at one time increases.

Accordingly, it is STAO/APSO's position that:

  1. Science courses should be strictly limited to a maximum 24 students per teacher in Academic Level classes, 20 students per teacher in Applied Level classes and l6 students per teacher in Essential Level classes.
  2. For mixed-ability, multi-level classes, the loading factor shall be for the lowest ability, i.e. the lowest ability group present in the classroom determines the number of students in the room/laboratory.
  3. The number of exceptional students in the class also warrants special consideration. Identified Exceptional Students, as defined in Bill 82, placed in regular science classes should be regarded as the equivalent of two mainstream students.
  4. New and renovated secondary school laboratories must meet the Ontario Building Code regulation of 4.60 m2 space per person. However, no matter how large an existing lab shall be, no more that 24 students shall be assigned to it at any one time. The amount of space needed to carry out student investigations depends on such variables as the nature of the course, whether or not the laboratory is also used for classroom discussion, and how much the laboratory is used for student independent investigation. Common sense says that overcrowding in science laboratories creates potential safety hazards. These hazards may be reduced by adhering to the OBC regulations.