The National Government’s National Standards

It the risk of sounding like a one-note-song, I’ll continue to harp on the one note that has been the mainstay of my recent repertoire: the National Government’s National Standards - ‘cos that’s what they actually are; theirs and no one else’s - have got to go.

The context in the entry below - taken directly from Ian Jukes’ site at http://www.committedsardine.com - is purely American but it is a good indicator of the future of NZ education, given our current government’s preoccupation with forcing the unwilling, to foist upon the unprotected, the untested and the unnecessary.

The length and breadth of New Zealand, school trustees - many of these about to become new entrants to the role - and principals are being cynically manipulated for purely political reasons. Make no mistake about it; the evidence abounds: this has nothing to do with education. It is pure politics being conducted at the expense of kids’ futures.

Support your kids: demand that the government produces the evidence to prove the benefits (FOR KIDS) of National Standards. Don’t hold your breath though; all that they have is platitudes and PR spin:”I’ve been to barbecues…” “One in five are failing….” “It’s going really well….” They need you to believe this because there is no research to support the contention that standards will help. Apparently, there is no willingness to let the facts stand in the way….hence the relevant legislation rammed through parliament while no body was really looking…a developing trend: just ask the Act party; they know the feeling….