THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506300514
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Ending months of debate over what Virginia's schoolchildren should be taught in history class, the state Board of Education on Thursday approved new academic standards for social studies.
Board members and educators said the revised Standards of Learning, a key piece of Gov. George F. Allen's back-to-basics school reform, bridged political and ideological differences that had sparked a statewide battle between the state's education community and conservative allies of Allen.
``Many people said it couldn't be done, and we have done it,'' said a smiling James P. Jones, president of the state board. ``I think this is a red-letter day for Virginia education in general, because we now do have tougher, more rigorous standards in all four of the core academic areas.''
The board last week adopted overhauled standards for math, science and English, capping a yearlong effort to raise academic expectations for the state's 1.1 million schoolchildren.
By spring 1997, the board hopes to have statewide tests ready to measure students' performance against the standards. Ultimately, schools that fail to pass muster could lose their accreditation, and students might be denied privileges, such driver's licenses.
``All of this is about consequences, which is the toughest issue to deal with,'' William C. Bosher Jr., state superintendent of schools, said last week. ``The toughest standards in the world won't amount to anything if you don't have consequences.''
Officials said the social studies standards adopted Thursday represent a consensus - not a political compromise - on what and when kids should be taught in history, government, geography and economics.
Specific academic tasks are outlined at each grade level, beginning in kindergarten with the use of simple maps and globes to locate land and water, to seeing that seniors can explain the concepts of democracy.
``I don't see fire storms on the horizon with this document,'' said Roanoke County social studies supervisor David M. Wymer, who was on a task force charged with producing acceptable standards.
Elizabeth H. Volard, president of the Virginia Council on Economic Education and a member of the task force, said the standards put Virginia at the forefront of a nationwide movement to improve education.
Del. James Dillard, R-Fairfax, a former government teacher who had said a January draft was ``totally devoid in skills training or critical thinking,'' praised the document approved Thursday.
``We've come a long ways,'' Dillard said. ``I think we have a very good document here.''
The process that produced the January draft had come under criticism.
After educators had written new standards late last year, members of Allen's handpicked Commission on Champion Schools substantially rewrote them.
Critics charged that the January draft presented a skewed view of history that eliminated references to multiculturalism and promoted rote memorization that might produce stellar ``Jeopardy'' players but fell short of preparing students for skills needed in the 21st century work force.
The document approved Thursday adds historic content in the elementary grades and also explores diverse cultures. Kindergartners, for instance, will be taught to recognize the significance of the people and events for which there are commemorative holidays, including Independence Day and holidays for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
Bosher said the new standards are much stronger in geography and economics, including an emphasis on America's free enterprise system.
``These standards clearly have enough content to let teachers and students and parents understand what's expected of them,'' Bosher said.
In hopes of adopting the standards before Allen appoints two new members to the board this month, a writing team worked furiously up until the final hours before Thursday's meeting to prepare a final draft. A few members were faxed their copies Thursday morning.
Because of concern over some misspelled words and what board member Alan L. Wurtzel called ``factual errors,'' Jones appointed four board members to comb the document for historical accuracy and clarity and to ``polish'' it.
State officials remain uncertain about the cost of the changes. School district officials have said they are concerned about the cost of teacher training, textbooks and technology that the new standards require. by CNB