Virginia’s new Standards of Learning expectations are being implemented at Gloucester High School, which is affecting English classes throughout the school.
Bernadette D’Auria is a tenth grade English teacher, as well as a journalism teacher who was interviewed about how the new standards are affecting her classroom. She explained that “most of the standards fall into the same categories of reading, writing, and research, but they have just been reorganized and expanded on.”
D’Auria mentioned that while she does not hate the new standards, she is highly critical of them. She explains, “I am afraid that we are sacrificing actual learning as a result.” When asked about what she liked about the new standards, D’Auria struggled to search for positive comments. “I’m sure that there are positives, but a lot of the stuff on the new document is hard to follow. The way it is laid out is so confusing to navigate.”
English 9 teacher Emily Nunez discussed the new standards and the role they play in her teaching. She stated that one of the key things about these new standards is getting her students to understand why they are doing certain things.
“Students have the same questions I do especially with the new memorization piece of ‘Why are we doing this?’” said Nunez.
The Virginia Department of Education has the new standards and regulations. Emily Nunez spoke about having to memorize and recite texts. According to VDOE section C.2 subsection b states 9th grade students must, “Memorize and accurately recite a short selection from a longer text demonstrating inflection and meaningful expression that is appropriate to the tone and voice of the selection.” Also in section C.2 subsection b for tenth grade it states students must, “Memorize and accurately recite a speech with intonation, meaningful expression, and emotion that conveys the intended mood (e.g., inspiration, motivation, conviction).”
As the interview with Nunez progressed, she discussed how the SOL standards affect her classroom. While the SOL standard impacts all English teachers’ classrooms, it seems that there is a large emphasis in hers on getting behind what the state calls “the science of reading.”
“It breaks it down a lot more into almost elementary level reading skills,” she said.
Both D’Auria and Nunez shared similar frustrations over the new standards that the Virginia Department of Education has put in place.
