THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 23, 1995 TAG: 9505200009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
As concerned educators, we feel compelled to respond to recent criticism of our profession as expressed in the media and at the March 27 public hearing on the new standards of learning.
At the public hearing there were many opinions expressed over the issue of accountability, an issue which concerns everyone. Accountability should start not with the teacher but at the top and work its way down. If there is failure at any level, there will be a domino effect. Culpability will become impossible to assign. Heads of organizations need to examine how their standards are established, identify ways in which people will be accountable for meeting those standards, develop effective evaluations and be strong enough to enforce the standards. Holding employees accountable is never easy - it takes knowledge, guts and a willingness to stick with the problem until it is solved.
As the State Board of Education works on revision of the proposed Standards of Learning for language arts, we hope it will consider these points:
The standards for each grade level should grow out of what is known about the reading process, keeping in mind that which is reasonable for children of that age. Then, and only then, should the means of evaluation be addressed. Tough evaluation should involve actual reading, which requires that the child integrate and apply a variety of skills. Tests of isolated skills are notorious for allowing people to make false assumptions about a child's true reading ability. In other words, Johnny can score well on a multiple-choice test but can't read a book.
The business community is looking for people who can read, interpret, analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions from a variety of written materials. Our standards need to support these expectations.
BARBARA STOKEY
JOAN RAYBOURN
JACQUELINE CHUBB
Virginia Beach, May 9, 1995 by CNB