Thursday, June 11, 2009
Social studies test is needed
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Meg Heubeck
Heubeck is the Youth Leadership Initiative's director of instruction at the University of Virginia Center for Politics in Charlottesville.
Re: "SOLs and the third-grader," June 3 editorial:
When I learned about the decision to remove the Grade 3 SOL in social studies, I was moved to take action.
As a parent and teacher, I want all children in this state to have an appreciation for the history, geography, economics and civics of Virginia and the nation. Statistics show that subjects that aren't assessed aren't taught and that means that Virginia's high social studies standards will be eroded.
Proponents of this action profess that this is a fiscal measure meant to deal with tough economic times, but there is question of this being the case. The savings from removing the Grade 3 SOL is approximately $1 per student; $1 is not too much to sacrifice for the education of our children.
Spending the savings on an additional math assessment sends a powerful signal to the schools that social studies education should take a back seat to subjects tested under the No Child Left Behind Act.
I have heard from many teachers on both sides of this issue. Many elementary teachers are happy to see a test removed from third-graders' desks and are offended that it is assumed that they won't teach social studies if it isn't tested.
I believe them, that as professionals they will resist pressure to teach to the test, but I have also seen what happens when high-stakes testing is used to assess school achievement.
The result will be the abandonment of the Virginia standards for K-3 social studies. As time progresses and pressure is applied, particularly to lower-functioning systems, teachers will bend to the pressure and discard social studies for math, English and reading.
Middle and high school teachers are more likely to see this picture and have expressed support for keeping the assessment as a way to ensure that students arrive in their classrooms with the necessary skills for success.
Removing the Grade 3 social studies SOL will weaken Virginia's Standards of Learning.
