Community Corner

Moms Talk Q&A: Are SOLs Important?

Do standardized tests help or hinder the learning process?

Are children under too much pressure to perform well for standardized tests like Virginia's Standards of Learning?

That's what we're discussing in this week's Moms Talk Q&A. Herndon Patch member Barb Welsh said:

"SOLs start this week and inevitably my kids feel a much pressure to perform and usually end up being on edge this week. There are many things that annoy me about them, one of them being that they don't seem to learn a whole lot after them but still go to school til near the end of June"

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Welsh said standardized test requirements mean a lot of creativity is lost during the teaching process and can take away from the excitement of learning for both students and teachers. She said while they are a necessary evil, she still doesn't like them. She wonders—how do parents of older children help them through the process as they become increasingly important as students get into middle and high school.

How do you feel about SOLs? Are they important? Are they necessary? Do they hinder the teaching process? Or are they a positive thing? Join our as they discuss it in the comments below.

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