April 13

From the latest New Zealand Principals Federation flyer…

“That at this point in time, the NZPF Membership has no confidence in the education policy and direction of the current government, in relation to National Standards, as led by the Minister.’

This motion was passed almost unanimously, endorsing the fact that you are opposed to implementing the National Standards in their present form. Given that we have exhausted all avenues and efforts to get the Minister to engage in meaningful dialogue with the sector in reviewing the standards, we now must take on the responsibility of educating our school boards and communities ourselves.

Below are some suggestions… Those of you who attended the conference will be in no doubt, after listening to the world experts, that National Standards are just not the way to go. Talk to your Board of Trustees and community and highlight the following points;

  • There is no crisis in NZ education standards – check out the OECD website http://ourtimes.wordpress.com/pisa/ to see we rank alongside the top ten countries in the world
  • Children do not learn in a linear way. They do not walk, talk, all at the same time and in the same way. They do not learn all at the same time in the same way.National Standards assumes they do.
  • The tail is not 20% it is 14%, which is similar to countries closest to us in OECD ranking
  • Countries, including China, India and Singapore are abandoning this policy. These are countries which recognise that policies focussing on the narrow culture of testing and assessment result in a decline in performance, educationally, socially and economically
  • Check out Andy Hargreaves website for extensive resources http://www.andyhargreaves.com/ (independent information: not propaganda)
  • Consider joining the Boards taking Action Coalition (BTAC) (Waverley Park’s Board of Trustees has) 
  • Write (again) to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, expressing your concerns around National Standards

Waverley Park School’s Board of Trustees and staff remain committed to doing what is educationally sound for, and ethically right by our kids: subjecting them to the outcomes of this politically motivated, and increasingly internationally discredited policy, is neither.