John Hattie is one of NZs leading education experts. He developed NZ’s world leading testing system. A few teachers don’t like him because he makes it easy to see when kids are making progress and when they are not and even the strengths and weaknesses of teachers. But most admire him and thank him for improving the quality of information on which they make decisions.
But when he says something the vast majority of those who understand the New Zealand education system take notice. He is certainly not a liberal educator and calls it as he sees it.
Carol Beaumont provided a link to the SST story on his paper yesterday. Some points from it:-
John Hattie of Auckland University predicts that even with the changes he recommends, the system – a key National policy – will do little to raise student achievement.
Prime Minister John Key has credited Hattie, a highly influential education expert who is often called in to advise officials on education matters, with inspiring the system
Hattie warns National’s policy :-
Could be the most disastrous education policy ever formulated.
Will only barely raise student achievement, if at all.
Could “pervert the nature of teaching” by pitting schools and teachers against one another.
So one week we have a paper commissioned by the Ministry that totally undermines Key’s claims made earlier that week of parental support for the changes and the next week the so called inspiration for the standards says that the risk is all on the downside.
It is like the Empress has no clothes and Key seems obligated to join her out of misplaced loyalty. (not quite the image I wanted – getting too late but I’m sure you know what I mean)
You can download the document from the Cognition Institute or grab a local copy of the PDF.
Think we can still fight it Trev? There’s still a huge misconception(even in Chopper’s own back yard) that this backward policy will lift achievement.
Really Really Retarded.
Spud – much as I appreciate your regular comments, please can you not use a word that historically described people with intellectual impairment as a term of abuse.
And linking back to the post theme, this policy will further marginalise and stigmatise those who might have special educational needs. They will be labelled educational failures as soon as they hit school.
@ Rory – yes we can – because it is to be implemented over a period of time.
This is a mistake -I have seen the stds and it is not going to do a thing to lift student achievement. One of the unfortunate things about the Nats ousting Labour is that at least Labour understood education, listened to the sector and were doing some really good things to make a difference. All this rushed policy will do is further marginalise those that struggle.
I am ashamed to be living somewhere where educators are so badly respected that their skills and advice is ignored – and ignored by someone who knows nothing about her portfolio. Its a sham. For the joe blog public that thinks this is the right thing – I pity their ignorance. THere are far better ways to work to lift student achievement – this is not it.
@Hilary – Okay that sounds fair enough. I’ll rewrite it
Roting Really Rubbish
National MPs clearly can’t read, which might explain why they are so hot on this “[insert region here]” http://www.thestandard.org.nz/jackie-blue-committed-to-insert-region-here/ and http://www.nickywagner.co.nz/index.php?/archives/37-Success-for-school-sport.html
@mjwkiwi – brilliant!! Best laugh I have had at the expense of the Nats for sometime. If you read on down the comments on the first link, it is also good value. Now, why does that kind of gaffe make it to the mainstream media – surely everyone in [insert region] could do with a bit of a laugh!
As for 85mil into sport – at what expense? I thought we were trying to save money.
It reads like John has woken up in the morning next to Ann Tolley and realized he might have made a big mistakes getting into bed with her in the first place. So now he’s trying to make sure he doesn’t get hit with a paternity suit in nine months time.