Special NZPF Federation Flyer 12 October 2010 - NS Sector Advisory Group
Tēnā koe
After a great deal of deliberation, NZPF has yesterday declined the Minister's invitation to join her newly-formed National Standards Sector Advisory Group (NSSAG).
We are disappointed that the Minister still refuses to even consider or look at the possibility that the system is flawed and therefore will not allow a review, and further as a show of good will, call a halt to the implementation of the National Standards until after this group has completed its work.
Please refer to the media release on this site.
Because National Standards are now in legislation principals have little choice but to implement them unless they wish to break the law. However, the vast majority of us feel very deeply that the Standards are morally wrong and that they will cause significant damage to children and schools.
We can't just make the Standards go away but neither can we sit by and do nothing and watch the children we are supposed to be protecting be subjected to a demoralising, demotivating process - administered by our own hands and particularly in light of the fact the Advisory Group is not going to address the real underlying concerns.
National Standards reporting paints a distorted picture of how a child or school is doing, so it is vital that children understand that they are not the ones who are failing. It is the system that is failing them. And so this week we launch the first stage of our public education campaign. It's not about politics or ideology.
It's a plain-language explanation of why this National Standards system is so harmful to children as well as a resource for those looking to protect their children from them. We need to make sure that parents understand that National Standards based reporting doesn't tell the whole story about their children or school. In many, many cases it doesn't even tell the truth.
The website (www.ourprincipals.co.nz) that forms the basis for our information campaign has gone live. We'll also be sending you out a resource pack in the next week or so containing:
- a guide to talking to parents and boards about the dangers and limitations of National Standards
- some helpful hints on getting the message across to reporters
- a DVD to help you explain why New Zealand principals are so concerned about these National Standards
We hope you will find them useful in helping parents, reporters and others understand just why principals are so concerned about National Standards, why they should view standards-based reporting in context and with caution, and help them see that there are things they can do to limit the damage to children and schools.
Our thanks to all who have put their names and faces to this campaign, and to those who dug deep into their own pockets to help fund it. A steady number of donations continues to come in and we urge those who have not yet done so, to put it on the To Do list. The site is a good start - but there is a long way to go and we will need your support. Visit here and scroll down to the second page to find out how you can support the campaign.
I trust Term 4 is happily underway and that the last fortnight provided opportunity for some worthwhile RnR.
Noho ora mai rā.
Ernie
SUPPORTED BY OUR 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.
Our Business Partners are: Gold CallPlus Services Limited Silver ALSCO 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.
Furnware
Konica Minolta Business Solutions New Zealand Limited
Programmed Property Services
Scholastic New Zealand Limited
Lundia Shelving Limited
Sitech Systems N.Z. Ltd
ASB Bank Limited
Crest Commercial Cleaning Ltd
Equico Limited
MUSAC
OfficeMax
PhotoLife Studios Limited
Postie Plus Group Limited
Smith & Smith
UNITE
