How many of our predecessors over the centuries have prepared themselves for battle, marched up to the line, drawn their sword and ……”hold on a minute, I’m on the wrong side, excuse me whilst I just hop over to the other side?”
Let me tell you, I experienced this somewhat strange phenomenon first hand last night. I had been uncomfortable with the overly politicized and emotional stance being published in many media circles. We have had politicians on both sides of the fence airing their views, we had the minister’s portfolios minimized to assist her in focusing on this “important” policy…..
On Monday night I returned from work, to be handed the weekly news from school with yet more "rhetoric" - proclaiming the injustices of the upcoming National Standards, and an invitation to the local town hall, to be addressed by some so called experts. The sword was drawn, how dare they politicize my child’s education, these teacher are public servants, they should get on with teaching not brain washing ……
Last night I attend a public town hall meeting, held by the NZEI - having received various snippets of information from my child’s primary school, voicing an opinion that I considered inappropriate. At this stage I was convinced I need to go and air my voice, and have my say. What I did encounter however, was a group, albeit small, of caring and concerned teachers and educational professionals who are passionate about a system that they believe is not for New Zealand.
National Standards is a process that is being forced on our children, teachers and community without public consultation, is modelled on a Canadian system, a Canadian system that has almost a 50% better teacher to pupil ration, from memory 17-18 students per teacher.
A process that contradicts another guideline, the new curriculum, which MUST be implemented this year….but hang on, how can you have a regime of “National Standards” that does not take into account the curriculum?
A standard that will put our children into a stereotype “class” of child, those that pass and those that inevitably FAIL, as there is no middle ground. Long gone will be the days of having your child’s report explaining that Johnny may have not got top honours, but the effort was high, or that little Sue produced good results, but was lazy and could have done better – NOPE – PASS OR FAIL…..at 6 years old!!
The government calls this National Standards – I call it SOMETHING THAT DESERVES A CONTROLLED TRIAL – FOR OUR CHILDRENS SAKE!