NZPF Federation Flyer No 24 – 5 November 2010
Tēnā koe
“It’s November the what?” I asked someone the other day. What I really meant was, “What, it’s November? How did that happen?”
As you count down the last six weeks of the school year, let’s take a deep breath, reflect on the past eleven months and make a list of all the great things that have happened this year, including the fantastic conversations you’ve had with your pupils, teachers, parents and colleagues.
Have a special morning tea to celebrate the good times. I’m going to do that and shock everyone in the NZPF office who never normally have morning tea together.
My list will actually be quite long. As a national federation we have much to celebrate. A special highlight is the launch of our NZPF National Standards campaign, which has had such a positive outcome in helping our parent communities and boards on the truth of these National Standards.
This week we congratulate 225 boards of trustees who have taken a bold stand and publicly announced that they will not set targets against National Standards for next year.
We thank all of you who have taken the time to discuss with parents, communities and boards about the problems and flaws with the National Standards, which has resulted in this amazing development. You have put the welfare of your pupils and the education system first and deserve to feel proud of yourselves.
Boards have taken the lead and we know that many more are following. In Auckland for example the number of boards signing up and deferring setting targets against National Standards has reached 79 this week. That’s quite an increase from last week. If your board is one of the valiant ones, tell your chair to be prepared to be contacted by Ministry officials asking if they are aware of their obligations, whether they know of NAG 2A and whether they know that NZSTA is available to help. The best answer probably is the resolution itself,” The National Standards are fundamentally flawed, confusing and unworkable and our school has no confidence in them. Therefore, we will defer setting achievement targets based on National Standards until these concerns are addressed. We will however, continue to use reliable data to set high expectations for our children which reflects the intent of the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga.”
Take time to visit the Stuff news website where you will see an article from the Dominion Post. There is a poll running on the left hand side of the story. Be sure and record your vote but read the questions carefully.
You can read the NZPF media release below.
Some of you may have read the editorial in the NZ Herald yesterday.
You may also have read the editorial in the Dominion Post yesterday. Whilst the NZ Herald gives an opinion that is based largely on accuracy, after reading the Dominion Post, you may correctly be wondering what has happened to journalistic standards in Wellington. You may well ask the following questions, “When did you become head-teachers? When did NZPF become a trade union? and When was 225 a handful of people?” John Hattie may also be surprised to learn that he is the inspiration for the government’s National Standards and that the entire National Standards campaign is based on sexism because Anne Tolley is the first female Minister of Education! Fortunately, the campaign to educate New Zealanders about National Standards will continue despite this sort of nonsense from our mainstream media.
A very special vote of thanks to the Manawatu Principals’ Association for their recent and generous donation of $10 000 towards the costs of the National Standards public education campaign. Individuals too keep adding to this fund. Members of the wider community have asked if they can also contribute by way of making a donation. Just direct them to the second page and pass on the form or the bank account number. The demonstration of commitment has been very reassuring. It has proved to be so useful to have the video, website and resources out in the public domain. The feedback we are getting is also very heartening and again, thanks to all of you who have taken the opportunity to show the video to your communities and boards. Don’t forget to add your comment on the ourprincipals site. Kia kaha.
Noho ora mai ra.
Ernie
Ernie Buutveld
Proudly supported by our Gold Business Partners
Attention: This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged.
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Upcoming Dates:
17 November New date for closing of Don Le Prou Award Applications (early conference in 2011)
26 - 28 November Executive meeting in Wellington
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This Flyer contains information on:
1 NZPF Media release
2 Don Le Prou Awards
3 NZPF 2011 Conference
4 Principals’ Survey
5 See Here Info
6 School Speed Limits
7 Business Partners
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1 NZPF MEDIA RELEASE
Boards and parents key to limiting National Standards damage
The New Zealand Principals’ Federation says it is heartening to see the growing number of boards of trustees now recognising how the current National Standards can cause harm to children and taking a stand against them. It is urging more parents and boards to get in behind the independent network, the ‘Boards Taking Action Coalition’, which includes urban, rural, high, medium and low decile schools in all regions of New Zealand.
“These Standards pose real dangers to children and schools. They will undermine the motivation and morale of those children who are already struggling the most, narrow our world-class curriculum down to three areas, threatening the rich diversity of our schools, and will pitch one local school against another in a bizarre and misleading ranking game.
“The saddest and most puzzling thing of all is that the information that National Standards reporting is based on will not even give accurate information about our children and schools.”
Mr Buutveld says that with the Standards now being cast in legislation and school principals being legally bound to implement them, it is up to parents and boards to make a stand.
“This is what we are seeing now, and it is wonderful. The more that boards and parents find out about these Standards, the more they are realising that they just don’t make sense. It’s great to see so many now making a stand in the interests of protecting children and schools.”
More than 225 boards of trustees have added their voices to those concerned that reporting based on these National Standards won’t give a fair or accurate picture of how individual children and schools are doing in relation to others, and put at risk the students, our curriculum, our network of schools and by themselves will not raise achievement.
Mr Buutveld says parents who want to know more about why education professionals are so concerned about these Standards should visit www.ourprincipals.org.nz -- a site funded by concerned principals to help parents make up their own minds about the issue and give them practical advice on how to protect their child and school from the damaging effects of the Standards.
2 DON LE PROU AWARDS
Honouring the late Don Le Prou, a founder of NZPF and former principal of Frankton School in Hamilton. This is a study grant to assist up to 20 NZPF members from U1-3 schools to undertake professional development. If you lead a U1 – 3 school, don’t forget the Don Le Prou Awards. $1000 towards your PD. 2011 applications close on 17 November 2010. Updated Application forms available now from our website.
3 2011 NZPF CONFERENCE 6 - 9 APRIL
The Wellington team has combined to plot a Leadership Conference pathway to support leadership through these times of accountability and measurement. They have attracted a dynamic line up of world-class speakers to the 2011 Wellington Leadership Conference 2011 “Set Yourself Free”. Early Bird Registration Fee (before 16 December 2010) is $850 incl GST.
The conference focuses on generating great leaders and future global citizens. Our international speakers will educate, inspire, entertain, stimulate and provoke our thinking. This is a conference for school leaders and leadership teams. Set Yourself Free and be inspired by:
Andy Hargreaves – School of Education at Boston College
Jim Spillane – Northwestern University
Ben Levin – Canada Research Chair in Education Leadership and policy
Yong Zhao – College of Education, Michigan University
Michael Wesley – Lowy Institute of International Policy
Set Yourself Free and socialise at The Beehive on Wednesday 6 April for the welcome function and at Te Papa on Saturday 9 April for the conference dinner.
4 PRINCIPALS’ SURVEY
John McKenzie, Principal at North East Valley Normal School in Dunedin is seeking your support to contribute to his survey research. He is surveying principals about schools and their relationships with families and communities. You can assist John by clicking on the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JR8MP7F and filling out the survey. Thanks.
5 “SEE HERE” PROJECT INFO FOR EDUCATORS
This was written specifically for educators to help them understand the purpose and limitations of vision screening and what they can do if they have concerns about a child’s vision: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/8070/$File/vision-hearing-screening-for-educators-feb2010.pdf
6 SCHOOL SPEED LIMITS
In New Zealand there are many schools where there is no special speed limit that keeps school children safe. All it would take is a speed reduction in the short school zone area, yet the Government is fighting this every step of the way. Outside most rural schools the speed limit is 100km/h and many principals have witnessed close calls involving children and speeding cars. A campaign has now been launched to have a National Speed Limit of 40km/h or less introduced outside all schools. To help us achieve this please sign the online petition by clicking on the following link: http://www.school-speed.org.nz/ Also you may want to have a look at the NZ School Speed Facebook page for more information on this: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NZ-School-Speeds/109007702471189 Thank you very much. Ultimately your actions will save children's lives.
7 BUSINESS PARTNERS
One of the undertakings the NZPF gives its business partners is that at the very least, they are given the opportunity by members to quote for a service or solution. They are realists and understand all too well the marketplace so giving them a chance to keep their collective pencils sharp is appreciated all round.
OOur Business Partners are:
Gold
CallPlus Services Limited
Furnware
Konica Minolta Business Solutions New Zealand Limited
Programmed Property Services
Scholastic New Zealand Limited
Silver
ALSCO
Lundia Shelving Limited
Sitech Systems N.Z. Ltd
Bronze Ahead Buildings Interested in becoming an NZPF Business Partner? We welcome enquiries from businesses that are interested in engaging with schools. If you would like to know how a partnership with NZPF can add value to your business, while supporting New Zealand education , please email David Ellery (NZPF’s Business Partner Convener), for an information package and further details about NZPF.
ASB Bank Limited
Crest Commercial Cleaning Ltd
Equico Limited
MUSAC
OfficeMax
PhotoLife Studios Limited
Postie Plus Group Limited
Smith & Smith
UNITE
