Another casualty of the economy: larger classroom sizes

Parents and politicians tend to agree a lot on this one: the smaller the classroom, the better. For good reason, of course. Studies have shown that children, especially if they're already ambitious and driven to learn, get far more out of a class the fewer other children in it. Which is why it's troubling that Georgia is considering adding two kids per classroom for the 2009-2010 school year.

But the move, while not desirable, is understandable: It will save the state some $200 million, according to state schools superintendent Kathy Cox.

If it happens, the largest a kindergarten class would be is 20 students. Grades 1-3 would be 23 students. Grades 4-8, however, would be 30. And, of course, parents worry that this is just the beginning. That in several years, officials will be promising that 35 kids are the limit for a classroom.