Quote of the day “When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”  - Albert Einstein Time for reflection It is the time of year for reflection and thanks and thinking of the New Year. I feel the PROTECT website has served its purpose in sharing information on National Standards with us all (and allowing me the occasional rant). It is time to retire this site, work with my community and invest my efforts in other areas. I know that Steiner school communities have grown and strengthened through this and are working as a wider group for a common cause. For non Steiner parents let me know how you are going and if you need any further support with working for your schools. There are those I would like to thank as I wrap this up. Obviously I would like to thank Dee Whitby and Adam Dubignon for working so hard with us to answer our questions and demands....

Quote of the day “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”  - Ernest Benn National extends Asset sales to schools I am going a bit outside my mandate here as this is mostly about charter schools, but if its good enough for the government. I feel frustrated and saddened today as the government reveals the privatisation/outsourcing plan for education. But at least we will soon be guaranteed 51% ownership of schools. Skip next paragraph if you don’t want to hear me rant. (Actually this whole thing is turning into a rant so please don’t read below, there’s not much in here about National Standards and P.S. I do sound like a Labour activist below but am just galled by yesterday’s news (I do make a plee for all politicians to behave no matter what flavour.) We are supposed to believe that National gave into requests from ACT to trial charter schools to gain ACTs “confidence and supply”. A word springs...

Quote of the day “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela The eye of the storm I was so tempted to put out daily updates last week with my thoughts but I held myself as the barrage of news came in: Moerewa and Ohorere seeming to prove that the government are not interested in closing the gap. John Key recognising that we are currently fourth in the OECD for educational performance and then in the same sentence blaming teachers for the education gap (and in policy charging teachers with solving poverty by educating those at risk so they can get jobs) National’s policy is now clearly focused on teacher accountability and reporting. National Standards look to be moderated by an “assessment” regime. National leaving it until the last minute to release their educational policy. ... So why not get all this information out there last week. Well to be honest there was so much information around already and I felt it inappropriate to look to be pushing a political...

Quote of the day 'I imagine a school system that recognizes learning is natural, that a love of learning is normal, and that real learning is passionate learning. A school curriculum that values questions above answers…creativity above fact regurgitation…individuality above conformity.. and excellence above standardized performance….. And we must reject all notions of 'reform' that serve up more of the same: more testing, more 'standards', more uniformity, more conformity, more bureaucracy” - Tom Peters Author 'Re-imagine' Anne Tolley accused of act of spite - Moerewa As we approach the day when Limited Statutory Managers are supposed to be applied to many schools (The 21st is the rumoured date).  What appears to be an illogical decision has been taken b y the Minister. The Minister, has directed the principal of Moerewa School to close their highly successful senior secondary school class, despite the 100% Maori student cohort achieving pass rates in NCEA levels one, two and three that are all higher...

Quote of the day 'Everyone has a right to a university degree in America, even if it's in Hamburger Technology.'  - Clive James Response from the Ministry I commend the Ministry of education on a fast and most direct response to my clear questions. In Summary the Questions and answers are: Do parents have a right to choose how their children are assessed?

In short no. Parents can raise concerns to there locally elected boards which do set policy for the school, but as we have seen are overridden by policy. So local communities can't have a say regarding National Standards. Do parents have a right to choose that there children are not assessed against National Standards goals and targets?

In short No. It is a legal requirement. Do parents have a right to choose (working with their school) how and when they are reported too (inline with their assessment choices)

There is flexibility on how parents are reported too. Most importantly do parents have the right to decide when...

Quote of the day 'If everyone is thinking alike then somebody is not thinking.'  - George S Paton Update from me Well I have been quite for a long time now with holidays and work but am now back on board. Where are we at So its been five months an where are we. Steiner schools are continuing to negotiate with the Ministry on sensible assesment models in relation to the order of delivery of the curiculum. Parents have written to the schools stating what they want. We have had several communications with Minister and Minstry but as yet we have only had the requirements of the Board and school with regards National Standards and in my latest response from the minister the statement that I misunderstan the intentions of National Standards. it was also stated that the expert I contacted to confirm how New Zealands National Standards can be claimed as being aligned with the Cambridge Primary review also misunderstood the instentions of National Standards. I am frustrated that after so long it should...

Quote of the day There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people. — Thomas Jefferson Confusion for parents I read the below blog from a parent that was concerned that their 5 year old child may need help after amongst other things the teacher showed concern on an oral language test which showed she was at the level of a 3 year old. (as part of a National Standards assessment) “The test they showed me had questions such as 'icecream is cold, the sun is......? So DD answers with melting I think it was, when she should have answered with hot “ So this parent is now distraught and confused as to whether there is an issue. How does this help the child an the parent? If this is blamed on the teacher why weren't National Standards trialled and rolled out slowly rather than rushed in resulting in this confusion, pain and possible negative impacts? I feel for this parent and their child. National Standards Tests - Primary School.

Schools dumping National Standards...

New Zealand’s, National Standards are not aligned with the Cambridge Primary Review In response to letters to the minister and ministry parents have received the same form letter. In this letter we have the following statement. “The Government has been able to learn from experiences overseas and many aspects of our National Standards are aligned with the recommendations of reports such as the 2009 released Cambridge Primary Review which can be found at http://www.primaryreview.org.uk.” In a response to this letter I made the minister aware that I was interested in reading the review but unfortunately it was not freely available. She provided a Cambridge Primary Review booklet which on my reading did not align with National Standards at all. I was confused so contacted the director of the Cambridge Primary Review, Robin Alexander. He was concerned that the CPR is being cited in support of National Standards and put me in touch with Associate Professor Peter O'Connor with whom I met with to...

Ministry denies claims of threats In my last update the biggest item of news was the phone call that Aranga school received last Friday threatening Limited Statutory Management as their charter while containing the National Standards requirement also included an implemented under 'Duress' statement. As the week has progressed it has transpired that Aranga school was not the only school in Northland to receive the call. The Ministry continues to by pass answering the question with answers (such as the one to my questioning): The Ministry of Education will monitor Board of Trustees to ensure they implement their charter. The ministry is being clear that boards are expected to meet the requirements of the Education Act and fulfill their legal obligations. To date the ministry has not recommended the appointment of a LSM for any Board One question I asked was whether boards are allowed to include a true statement in their charters with regards why they are implementing National Standards. At least...

Ministry plumbing new depths It has been reported this weekend that Aranga school in Northland has been told it can expect to be put under Limited Statutory Management as although the charter included the National Standard requirements it also included the following statement: ‘This is being done under a directive from the Ministry of Education and not because we believe that it is sound educational practice.’ The Whangarei office of the MoE apparently then contacted the principle referring to this statement as a 'disclaimer' which meant the school's charter was non-compliant an that as a result the ministry had no alternative but to put the school under statutory management, initiating Monday. Kelvin Smythe provides the best coverage of this as he has spoken to the principle: Tolley Suckered

The ministry's response is that it has not recommended the appointment of any limited statutory managers. But it says boards are expected to meet their legal obligations to implement...