THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, April 20, 1995               TAG: 9504200018
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   31 lines

WHERE HAS EDUCATION GONE?

Hats off to editorial writer Keith Monroe (April 4) and Jake Priode (Another View, April 5) for recognizing the problems with the standards of learning (SOL). I also feel that the SOL does not meet the education needs of today's society. Yes, the SOL has standards, but are they realistic for the '90s?

The standards of learning has become an educational wall preventing students from learning what is needed while teachers and National Education Association members stand by wondering what to do about it. Maybe it's time for concerned teachers and parents to come together and challenge the NEA and propose a realistic standard of learning.

I am not the most educated person around. However, I have gained a successful career, and I'm starting my own business. I would never have come this far if it hadn't been for the standards that were set when I was going to school. I'm sure that I would never get the education that I got then in today's school system.

JAYSEN T. MAIURA

Chesapeake, April 9, 1995 by CNB