Teresa DeBrito is the principal of Shepaug Valley Middle School. Although most people in the United States believe that small class sizes are highly desirable, DeBrito worries that the classes at Shepaug Valley are shrinking too much. This is because she has taught both very small and very large classes and knows that while large classes are exhausting to control, they’re usually more successful than incredibly small classes (contrary to popular belief). In fact, tiny classes are difficult to teach because it’s especially hard to incite exciting discussion with so few people. By outlining this dilemma, Gladwell suggests that it’s wrong to assume that students will do better in smaller classes, since this isn’t always the case.
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Teresa DeBrito Character Timeline in David and Goliath
The timeline below shows where the character Teresa DeBrito appears in David and Goliath. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Teresa DeBrito
The downsides of small classes are so stark that Teresa DeBrito —the principal of Shepaug Valley—actively worries about the school’s shrinking enrollment, despite what most people...
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To illustrate Teresa DeBrito ’s point, Gladwell references an elite private boarding school in Connecticut called Hotchkiss. The tuition...
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