Boards and parents key to limiting National Standards damage 3 November 2010
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.
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Footnote: The New Zealand Principals’ Federation represents over 2300 school leaders and covers integrated, primary, intermediate and secondary schools. The Federation is dedicated to supporting the continuing professional and personal development of all New Zealand principals and their schools.
For more information, please contact:
Ernie Buutveld
President
New Zealand Principals' Federation
Mobile 027 448 4789
ernieb@nzpf.ac.nz
www.nzpf.ac.nz
Principals Supporting Principals
