What a whale!

Far-right blogger Cameron Slater (Whaleoil) has been at it again, exposing NZEI's huge conspiracy  to - well - educate the children of New Zealand.

Cameron got hold of an email from Auckland principal Liz Horgan (and how did that happen, I wonder? two scenarios spring to mind straight off - some sort of hacking or an avenue that ran past the minister's office). In the email, Liz despairs about National Standards. Liz's school is a BTAC school - but Cameron breathlessly exclaims, she's also member of NZEI! and the email is copied into - believe it or not - other members of NZEI! And someone from NZCER too - heaven's above, the sky really is falling, it's a communist takeover!!!!!

Meanwhile back in the real world, educators work together as a sector for the best interests of children's learning. They talk to each other, they share and debate ideas, and they look to research as to what does and doesn't lift student achievement levels.

Let me see, National Standards-style policies (aka factory-farmed children), tried in numerous countries around the world, student achievement levels have contiguously fallen -  the causal link widely recognised - good thing or bad thing??? Poor Cameron - what a struggle to work it all out!