Dr Darrell Latham said the minister's claim that she could not raise achievement levels, but New Zealand's teachers and principals could, suggested a simplistic solution to a raft of problems exacerbated by poor education policy.
Ms Parata made the claim during the National Party's Mainland Conference in Dunedin at the weekend.
While the minister noted accountability started with her, Dr Latham said it was very clear she was placing schools on notice.
"The indication by Ms Parata that she intends increasing accountability in areas related to good teaching and achievement, is a thinly disguised veil of her intent to introduce performance pay for teachers, and as she earlier stated, to start sorting the wheat from the chaff."
Dr Latham said he was seriously concerned by the minister's failure to take on board some of her own government policies, which did not represent or support best practice.
"Too much recent education policy is driven by political expediency, rather than what has been proven to be beneficial for children.
"Politics rule and facts come second."
He believed the Government had ignored the international research on National Standards and charter schools.
Year one of a three-year research study following the introduction of National Standards, has shown schools are struggling to keep up, the standards are anything but national and schools are interpreting them differently, he said.
"What the standards are actually suggesting is more about compliance rather than the advancement of education.
"If, as the minister suggests, accountability starts with her, then her decisions should reflect best practice and pay cognisance to the research evidence.
"It makes no sense whatsoever when a Minister of Education goes against internationally peer reviewed research, and then proceeds to introduce policy that does little to support the advancement of children.
"If the research evidence suggests that it is flawed and the Government proceeds, then it is simply reducing the status of our children to guinea pigs and it is not acceptable."
Dr Latham said teachers could be held accountable for many things, but not for policy which did nothing to support children's education.
Ms Parata said Dr Latham's claims were "wide of the mark and mischievous".
She had been very vocal in her support of the teaching profession.
"It is they who bring about achievement. Students learn in the classroom, not in my office or in the ministry."
