Posts by Tony Parker
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Im a bit intrigued as to how the literacy and numeracy crusade is actually going to workout, without the extra bureaucrats. But more so, how the ingenious students are going to develop there "kiwi ingenuity skills" while being humiliated by endless reading writing and numeracy evaluations.
I actually think they haven't thought this through at all. I am assessing my kids all the time-just not with standardised written tests. They are 5 after all. My worry is what happens once I have done all this testing (over and above what I already do) and some of the children don't achieve the "standards", because this will happen. That's not to say the children have not progressed or that they are not achieving. Does my pay get cut, does the school get a smack over the hand? It could be used as big stick with which to beat the teaching profession. Mind you National have always hated teachers anyway.
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As a teacher I have to say the thought of Anne Tolley as Minister of Education sends shivers up my spine. The fact that I will now also have to spend more time testing my 5 year olds and less time teaching them somewhat baffles me. The whole standards thing Key has been pushing throughout the campaign felt like an insult to all the good work teachers are doing and when you hear a ministry person say the National party will take education back 40 years you have to wonder what research the Nats are using. The only thing making me feel good at the moment is listening to the Clash-Live From Here to Eternity.