Public Comment: Collaborative Draft of the VA H/SS Standards

Mary Nacey

On Thursday, February 2, the Virginia Board of Education heard public comments about the History/Social Studies draft standards. I was speaker 58. This is what I said:

My name is Mary Nacey, and I am a parent of four children in the Albemarle County Public School system.  I am here today to urge the board to accept the History and Social Studies Collaborative Standards for first review, and to reject the so called “January Draft”.

There are many components of the “January Draft” that concern me, including multiple errors and the increased number of standards, WITHOUT consideration of increased instructional time or teacher support.

However, what concerns me the most is the ABSENCE of problem solving, reasoning, and analysis skills in favor of rote memorization of names, dates, and data.

In a time when we are increasingly concerned about student engagement and the development of lifelong learners, such a laser focus on the memorization of small, often insignificant pieces of information represents a giant step backwards.  Rote memorization DOES NOT inspire creative thinking, curiosity, or an understanding of history.  Students would be taught WHAT to think, at the expense of understanding HOW to think.

Moreover, because the standards presented in the “January Draft” exceed what a teacher could possibly teach within a school year to such an extreme degree, it feels as though the authors have created a curriculum by which teachers are intentionally prevented from teaching reasoning and analysis skills.

It reminds me of the fairy tale “Cinderella.”  The stepmother tells Cinderella that she can go to the ball as long as she has finished her chores, only to set an impossible list of tasks that Cinderella could never hope to finish in time.

Reasoning and analysis skills should not be a privilege to be EARNED by completing all of the rote memorization chores.  And make no mistake, that is what rote memorization is - a chore.

The Collaborative Standards were researched and written by top historians and educators in our state.  The “January Draft” Standards are not viable.  As a public school parent, I urge the board to accept the Collaborative Standards for first review to ensure that my children and their peers have access to a robust, rigorous curriculum that encourages the growth of problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Thank you.