PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Some Portsmouth parents have launched a petition against Cradock Elementary School that levies a number of accusations, with one notably being the elimination of science from the fourth-grade curriculum.
The school said this is a part of an “instructional pilot program” that replaces fourth-grade science with Virginia Studies, a social studies course with a focus on Virginia.
“We believe this approach will enrich students’ educational experience and better prepare them for continued success in upper grades,” a Portsmouth Public Schools spokesperson wrote. “Cradock Elementary teachers have been preparing for this transition and are excited to bring these subjects to life through dynamic and meaningful instruction.”…