The National Standards Bus Tour, protesting against the implementation of national standards in schools, passed through Balclutha yesterday.
The teachers' union, New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa, began its tour in Bluff on Tuesday, collecting signatures from parents and teachers concerned at national standards being introduced into schools when their effectiveness was untested and unproven.
NZEI national secretary Paul Goulter said there had been a good response over the past two and a-half days from schools, boards and parents.
"There have been lots of people asking us what the standards are, and what are the issues."
This was evidence the Government had not effectively canvassed public opinion on the standards before introducing them, as many parents were unaware of the issues involved with schools teaching to set standards, Mr Goulter said.
"The Government says this will work in really well [with the new curriculum].
"How can it when it hasn't been tested and trialled?"Balclutha Primary School principal Paddy Ford said National Standards were "the worst thing that's happened to education in New Zealand".
Mr Ford said the Government was spending $39 million on a resource that would not make any difference, because schools had been teaching to standards for years.
"Show me these schools that are not doing that . . .
"The emphasis on literacy and numeracy is coming at the expense of the wider curriculum," he said.
Mr Ford was concerned a school's funding would be allocated on the basis of its performance in these two areas without taking into consideration how pupils performed in sporting, cultural and artistic areas.
rachel.taylor@odt.co.nz