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
