Explain as a parent why I should care about SOLs?

[Anonymous]

I just told my 4th Grader I care only about the grades she gets from her teachers and not to worry about the SOLs.

I hate "No Child Left Behind" and "Teaching the test." And while I realize good scores are good for our school, is there any reason whatsoever that I should worry about what dd actually scores on her SOLs?

I have a good mind to keep her out on test days and take her to a museum or the movies or something.

What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Have you thought about the fact that they are testing to see if your snowflake has learned something over the course of the year? Would you prefer end of year exams from the teacher?
There was a time when many got 600's but they are slowly making each test harder. The score may matter most to your school, but your child over time has to realize that he/she is accountable for paying attention at school and retaining some knowledge.

I really don't understand what all this "teaching to the test" complaining is about - the question is "Is your child learning something important?" If not, the problem is with the curriculum and not the testing.

[Anonymous]

Your child's SOL scores will reveal whether she has gaps in reading and math, which I'd want to know as a parent. Next years teachers will use her scores to see if she needs extra help or not.

She will gain practice working through long tests, which builds attentional stamina, something kids don't really have these days.

She will also gain practice reading and following directions and taking standardized tests, something you have to do well to gain access to most careers these days, not to mention graduate from HS in VA.

I think there is too much testing these days, but keeping your child home sends the wrong message.

If she doesn't take them with her class, she'll get pulled to make them up anyway probably when her class is doing fun end of the year activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you thought about the fact that they are testing to see if your snowflake has learned something over the course of the year? Would you prefer end of year exams from the teacher?
There was a time when many got 600's but they are slowly making each test harder. The score may matter most to your school, but your child over time has to realize that he/she is accountable for paying attention at school and retaining some knowledge.

I really don't understand what all this "teaching to the test" complaining is about - the question is "Is your child learning something important?" If not, the problem is with the curriculum and not the testing.

Gee, I don't know... What's important?

For three years in a row my kid has been taught about moon phases. The fuck is that about? Are they teaching them to be werewolves?

Eight weeks on Virginia history? Really?!?!?!

Oh, and my personal favorite: Eight weeks on the Civil war, but about 5 minutes on World War 1 and World War II.

You'll excuse me for rolling my eyes at what the Virginia Department of Education believes is important.

[Anonymous]

...and of all the countries in the world...Mali?
Why the hell do the kids have to study Mali?

[Anonymous]

Your language is pretty harsh, but 19:38 was pretty snarky. I wish people would tone down the attitude and pretend for a second the person you are talking to is in the same room as you.

[Anonymous]

I agree that Mali is sort of random but it has been in the news lately with the fundamental Islamists taking over parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

My, what foul language we have tonight OP. Maybe a glass of wine is in order?

I tell my kids that the SOLs are a way to show the schools how well their teachers taught them the required material, nothing else. So if they respect their teachers and feel the teachers did a good job teaching them this year, then they should do their best on the SOLs to make their teachers look good.

[Anonymous]

although DC is in 7th now, all along I have assumed the SOL results are a rough indication of how much DC learned during the year, especially math.
I've told said DC that it is important to try to do well on every test. I thibnk it would set a very bad examle for the child if they were told to play hookey that day.

[Anonymous]

Guess what life is about learning and being tested that you understand what was taught. In college they do administer exams , shit the last two interviews I went on had tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just told my 4th Grader I care only about the grades she gets from her teachers and not to worry about the SOLs.

I hate "No Child Left Behind" and "Teaching the test." And while I realize good scores are good for our school, is there any reason whatsoever that I should worry about what dd actually scores on her SOLs?

I have a good mind to keep her out on test days and take her to a museum or the movies or something.

What am I missing?

How do you think the teachers grade students? With tests as well you idiot. I guess you got left behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...and of all the countries in the world...Mali?
Why the hell do the kids have to study Mali?

Well you do know we are in a small war in Mali. Don't you? Ask someone in the military.....

[Anonymous]

We get 4 report cards a year and are told not to worry about them. They've even eliminated "grades" and replaced them with numbers that don't make sense and we are supposed to infer how the kids are doing. I'd rather worry about their quarterly grades, the individual tests, etc. than the SOL. The bar for SOL is pretty low. Not passing it is a real indicator of struggles.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you thought about the fact that they are testing to see if your snowflake has learned something over the course of the year? Would you prefer end of year exams from the teacher?
There was a time when many got 600's but they are slowly making each test harder. The score may matter most to your school, but your child over time has to realize that he/she is accountable for paying attention at school and retaining some knowledge.

I really don't understand what all this "teaching to the test" complaining is about - the question is "Is your child learning something important?" If not, the problem is with the curriculum and not the testing.

Gee, I don't know... What's important?

For three years in a row my kid has been taught about moon phases. The fuck is that about? Are they teaching them to be werewolves?

Eight weeks on Virginia history? Really?!?!?!

Oh, and my personal favorite: Eight weeks on the Civil war, but about 5 minutes on World War 1 and World War II.

You'll excuse me for rolling my eyes at what the Virginia Department of Education believes is important.

Ummm, VA history is pretty important.... You might want to have a discussion with your child about it to refresh your memory. My son loves history and talked about what he learned in class every day. I learned a ton from him that I never heard in school. I'm assuming this is 4th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...and of all the countries in the world...Mali?
Why the hell do the kids have to study Mali?

Well you do know we are in a small war in Mali. Don't you? Ask someone in the military.....

Do you know how many "small wars" we are engaged in? Why is Mali important? It's not like it's strategically important. It's a landlocked African country. That has a legacy of French colonialism. Why should we care? It's France's problem.