Taking action

Every so often in teaching a policy comes along that is so offensive that it beggars belief, says Perry Rush, from the Boards Taking Action Coalition. National Standards currently being foisted on children is one such policy.

The levers of power have been aligned to enable this goal: to ensure this policy is implemented. Avoiding egg on the face is the political imperative of the day. As a consequence, the Ministry of Education has held a tin ear to vociferous opposition to this policy.
In the face of testing times, a significant group of schools is giving lie to the belief that such damaging policies have a place in our education system and that compliance is the only choice confronting schools.
Who is this group and why are we standing so tall on this issue?
The Boards taking Action Coalition (BTAC) is made up of over 1500 parents on 300 school boards from every corner of New Zealand. These Boards have examined the standards closely and agree that there are numerous very serious flaws.

Three issues stand out
- The standards do not tell the truth. National norm-referenced assessments do not align to National Standards. This means children can be assessed as failing when this simply is not the case.
- The standards are not national but local. They are not precise and mean different things to different people.
- The standards tell us that it is normal for all children to learn at the same rate. They squeeze children into a one-size-fits-all straightjacket. This is not true. Children learn differently. These standards make abnormal the normal and take us back to the future.

Protect professionalism
The gloss of the standards promise has worn off and many boards are looking beneath the popular rhetoric. Boards of trustees (BoTs) who have examined the issues closely have not failed to see these and other very serious flaws.
In the absence of leadership in the Ministry of Education to resolve concerns in a constructive and timely manner, BoTs in BTAC have acted decisively to protect the professionalism and ethical standards of the staff they employ. Late last year these boards passed a motion of no confidence in the standards.
But the resolve of many BoTs is hardening. A new opportunity is currently in front of all boards throughout the country: To collectively submit 2011 charters without National Standards targets on 1 July; instead, set achievement targets based on existing and reliable data.

Flawed data
This action stops flawed National Standards student achievement data getting to the ministry, and sends a strong message about the resolve of local communities who bear local responsibility for children in their care.
It is heartening to be part of a growing community of principled parents on boards, teachers and school leaders, and parents in school communities who are acting on concerns in a measured, thoughtful and intelligent manner.
We have all been sold a lemon. BTAC schools are strong, optimistic for our education system; aspire to high professional and ethical standards for teachers, and a much, much better deal for our children.

Perry Rush is principal at Island Bay School in Wellington and a spokesperson for BTAC. A copy of the board resolution is available from southwelly@gmail.com