Anne Tolley has the lightest workload of the national party front bench and a smaller portfolio load than any Minister of Education in the forty years I have been following politics.
I see from the local newspaper clippings that she is planning to do a few meetings at national party offices around the country to justify her pathetic development and implementation of her standards policy. Some aren’t big enough to take the parents from a whole class of kids. Talk about a chicken staying on safe ground. And I see from her otherwise light schedule that she is limiting her meetings to one hour – to avoid having to answer the pretty obvious questions.
My challenge to her is to spend a day with me on the NZEI bus. By all means bring along a couple of public servants to help her understand and if possible answer questions. And how about the President of the School Trustees as well – so the anger that many boards are feeling can be directed to them as well as trhe Minister.
In return I’m willing to spend a day with her – going from nat MP office to nat MP office – hearing from those who turn up there.
Come on Anne – how about it?
But I’m willing to wager a bottle of the best NZ wine that she doesn’t have the courage to defend her policy and pick up the challenge.
Paul : “But it is quite clear that parents go for what they consider is the ‘good school’.”
I’m sure that this is the case. In fact it’s a no brainer, really as you’d hardly expect many parents to voluntarily opt for a ‘bad school’ for their kids.
I suppose that it then all comes down to how they determine what’s good and what’s bad.
I’m sure that many factors come into play, some rational, some irrational. I’m not sure where National Standards (with or without published results and/or league tables) comes into this, but I don’t think it’ll have the huge effect on the perception of local parents that is being suggested. It’ll just be one more aspect to a myriad of things which go to make up the whole.
Thanks Paul and Trevor.
Trevor. My original question could be adjusted to ‘How will National Standards facilitate clear and accurate ‘plain language’ reporting for students who are well above the Standard for years above their age’ e.g. 5 yo with reading at 12 yo level.
I would really like to know, as would a lot of parents what is to be done about the ‘tails’ of the bell curve most impacted by the National Standards.
I would be interested to know too.
It doesn’t – the kids at the very top have achieved the National Standard. That’s it! The ones at the very bottom they will be identified (again!) in a category named I think ‘Well Below’. Make you worried about bright children? You should be but maybe some comfort will come from the fact that, as now, schools will still know who is in that category and report that in their normal reporting (Parent interviews, school reports) – at least that is what we plan to do at our school.
I have no idea if my children are gifted. Too young to test but there are signs there that makes me wonder. I wanted them not to have to have the horrible experiences that I had at primary in the 80’s.
I really worry what will happen to them at school. I do have 2 years before my oldest starts though.
And I know Paul might tell me off for mentioning AsTTle again but the console reports available give really good easy to read information. I’m not up to speed with the parent level reporting system for PAT and NEMP.
Trevor I watched a segment of question time where you were asking the minister of education questions and I must say they were the best questions there and the only ones in that segment where the national mp seemed to lose her cool
A Mother – when you go and visit prospective schools ask them about their Special Abilities programme. Most schools will have one for their very top students (not often in the Junior School though). But also remember that it is actually the art of teaching to cater for all the children in your school/class. Great teachers (and it is a very hard job to do) will mostly manage this within their classrooms.
Trevor, the PAT’s have been revamped somewhat and provide excellent information for students to self evaluate and for teachers – as good as AsTTle I think.
Can anyone tell me if Tolley has the steels to turn up in the South Island? Or is she just touring the Nth? I for one would love to squash into a cramped little office to hear her spin – I am sure I would learn nothing but watching her squirm as the profession asks her easy questions that she finds tricky would be most entertaining. (Trev, has she actually bothered to get back to you about what moderation looks like yet?)
Re the 30% identified in the ero report – I have already waxed lyrical on this before in terms of how broad that is – we do not know how many of those teachers have undergone PD or are about to, or how many are inexprienced and still learning, or how many are actually incompetent (suspect its the 10% and the other 20% fall into categories like the ones above.
ps the other paul here (not the one above) – but for the record, I agree with most of what paul above says – esp re asttle (it is not the be all and end all – helful for some sure, but a donkey in other areas – esp for ESOL kids and those whose have literacy issues etc – or if you are online, those schools with lacking ict capability…) and I too would be concerned if either Nat or Lab decided to just use it as the ‘nat test’
pss- you know it gets a bit confusing with all the different pauls around – must have been a popular handle!
from what I can see it only the top of the north. Not even the whole north island.
maybe paul or Paul could make it a bit clearer by adding a letter paul a – not to be confused with paula tho.
And it sounds like next Thursday’s 5pm Auckland meeting is being billed as the big one.
Oh man, three Pauls?
How about a profile picture or a cool name for Paul three?
An architect of the US’ No Child Left Behind and charter schools is becoming disenchanted with them. Guess what, testing narrows the curriculum and doesn’t raise standards, and charter schools just drain resources from the public system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/education/03ravitch.html?hp=&pagewanted=all%3Cbr%20/%3E
@Paul the principal.
Yes I agree that teachers have to cater for everyone in their class, I’ve heard great things about the school down the road from me so prob were they will be going. The PlayCentre they attend is in the school grounds, and new entrance teacher and principal come in for afternoon tea in the big kids session when a group about to go off together to school. Think this is a nice touch.
It makes me feel that they really value the children. I will ask about Special Abilities programme though. Or may see for myself on teacher placement if I get placed there. I’ll put my name down to go there but there is no guarantee. That will be next year as doing Uni part time at this stage until my two are a little older.
@A Mother – going on placement to the school will give you a really good feel for the culture of the school – so good luck with that, I hope you get an opportunity to see for yourself. Other good questions to ask is how they cater for children who are struggling, what do they do to cater for the diverse range of abilities in the classroom – and of course, does the school have opportunities for talented/gifted students to grow these talents/gifts in more than just academics (eg: if they are culturally/sport/music talented/gifted) and how do they identify these children?
(paul with the small p)
I’ll be Paul 3 – I’m the principal Paul. In Northland where, surprise, surprise there is no meeting with Tolley because she may well not escape alive!
LOL
Welcome to the blog. 
“In Northland where, surprise, surprise there is no meeting with Tolley because she may well not escape alive!”
Be the same in invers too I imagine. I hope all the principals across NZ will be united, but I fear that there are some areas where the competitive model is a bit too entrenched and the fight for pupils and building an ‘empire’ mentality may win over – not too mention the odd bot and principal worried over any sanctions Ms Trolley may impose. For it work best it needs to be an all or nothing approach such as in Invers and northland.
Hi Paul 3. Now I may know who I’m talking to.
@ Mother, If you are looking do some searching on the Net around the Montessori education and esp the philosophy. I just went to the information evening. It involves a lot more self motivated learning, and there are no restrictions on how much they can learn about a subject they are passionate about. They prefer you to follow right through to 18.
It does cost ($500-$650) per term and not sure if there is a school in your area (apparently one in Tawa and some in Wellington of other state schools have accredited units within the main school). The biggest is Naenae. It is an integrated school (does NCEA, the improved version) NO NATIONAL STANDARDS.
And Yes they do have a junior school 3-6 so this may appeal to you for an employment perspective (they do their own course for the different skills needed).
I very much recommend you have a look at what they are doing from both professional and parental perspective.
Not far from your place and worth a look. would also be a good place to do some teaching practise.
I’m thinking of going to one of Tolley’s meetings without an invitation. What do people think?
Go for it Trevor. That would be funny to be a fly on the wall.
Could you stream it live? I’d happily pay!
He he he
@Jeremy
The Naenae Montessori is 5 mins walk from where we live.
I would love to send my children there but will see closer to the time if can afford fees.
My son loves science. He conducts his own experiments. He wanted to know how the clouds get water in them so I told him about the water cycle, later on that day he tipped his water out on the ground and asked for more water when it had dried up as he was making clouds so very hands on. Elaborate wooden block buildings or bucket buildings as he has to have it high! Think that could be a boy thing?
His younger sister on the other hand (14mths younger so not yet 2) sits doing puzzles designed for 3 1/2-4yr olds and talking in complete sentences, can say over 250 words, and very sensitive. Both of them I can no longer use distraction method on, they clicked onto this a while ago and now try and use it on other kids and me, so once they have something in their head they won’t let it go. These are a few reasons why I’m worried about the National Standards and the narrowing of the curriculum.
From what I’ve read Montessori would be perfect for them. When qualified I could work in the preschool, That I think is in Avalon/Park ave area, but in the school itself I think the first class is from 7-9yrs, I could be wrong. I’m going to be qualified to work with 0-8yr olds. I might pop in and get some information.
(Was going to do that for an assignment later on this year on alternative learning environments so have had a quick look already a few weeks ago, but for now I’ve finished this weeks class work and now to get the first assignment finished and off, or I’ll never get there, not to mention I have to find a way of answering more questions for my son who thankfully touch wood seems to have skipped the why questions and asking how instead)
That’s great A Mother!
I think Trevor should go. I think he should go representing the case of a group of children and be well prepared with specific cases for the Minister to comment on i.e. spec ed, G&T, ESOL.
I think it would be very poor form for him to try to ‘points score’ at these meetings, just seek answers to well thought-out questions.
Any journalism students that can accompany?
He can go without invitation because it’s a public meeting. It just becomes a problem if he monopolises the meeting.
I wish there were meetings in the South Island!
Trevor – they are public meetings. The one in Johnsonville next Tuesday at 10 am has just been advertised again in the local paper.
A Mother – do your children go to Playcentre? Good playcentres encourage all that child centred learning through play like the examples you provide, and support parents to feel comfortable doing this stuff and getting messy too. Good schools ie those that provide a safe and supportive environment for child centred learning, build on that foundation. Don’t be too blinded by Montessori. There are some good aspects of Montessori but in my opinion the model can be also be quite restrictive too.
In looking at schools generally it is the relationships that provide the x factor. Look for the relationships in the school environment as that is the basis for the school’s culture – are the kids happy and engaged whatever their ability, are there good relationships obvious between staff, btn staff and management, staff and families, board and community, is the principal an enthusiast for education and a champion of ALL the kids at the school and their right to learn, and generally a good and respected school leader?
Is the school happy for you to come and look at any time? That is an indication of a school comfortable with itself.
Yes they do go to playcentre. Just got back actually. Covered in paint, water and sand, all three of us. School a few years away yet so have a while to see what happens.
Trevor? Does one need an invitation to attend an Anne Tolley meeting? Surely anyone can go provided they behave themselves and sit quietly and raise their hand to speak?
So are you going Trevor?
Have just sent Trevor a e-mail regarding a meeting on 10 March in Lincoln. Apparently advertised but I didn’t see anything, yet. So South Island visit coming, quietly…
Would love to go but they seem too far out the way for me and with no car, Its very unlikely. I would love to hear what she says on this subject. If you going Linda, let us know what happened?
Public Meeting on National Standards on Wednesday 10 March at 7.00pm at the Lincoln Bowling Club. Anne Tolley.
This is the only South Island one that we have been able to pick up on so far. Any more please let me know.
A Mother. Great to hear about the paint, water and sand. I have observed that messy play and paint covered children causes great anxiety with many parents, but kids are so tactile that I’m sure it is an important part of healthy development. Warm purple fingerpaint can be very satisfying. Maybe it is the same with those adults like Trevor doing the muddy thing in Karapoti.
@ A Mother. Perhaps you could e-mail your local MP with your questions and see how they get on at representing their constituent (you).
If I get to a meeting, I’ll certainly share my opinion on it.
Really hoping Trevor can go to one. (Anne doesn’t like his questions in the relative safety of Parliament)
National Party Public Forum on National Standards
With National MP Michael Woodhouse
Mon Mar 29 7pm Port Otago Lounge, Edgar Centre, 116 Portsmouth Drive,
Dunedin
(From NZEI bus tour PDF)
My son doesn’t like mucky things on his hands too much. My daughter stands there studying her painting and while she pauses she stick the paint brush in her mouth and loves gloop, (Cornflour and water).
Tried with my son to get him to touch different textures and things but oh well but all are different. He likes sand and water and carpentry table.
Had water slide out today so wet then into the sandpit. Why kids can’t do it the other way around? It would make it a little easier. Horray for Nappy treatment is all I can say. Its part of being a kid. Let them go for it.
@ Linda.
Trevor is my local MP and I think he knows how I feel already.
@ A Mother. Then he has even more of a mandate to attend a meeting.
@Linda
Yeah go to a meeting. If they are public meetings then I don’t see why you would need an invitation.
Go there to ask questions. Questions like “How will the moderation of National Standards work?” and so on. I don’t think you need to debate much with her at the meeting. Her non-replies to the questions you ask will say a lot.
Yeah, go to a meeting!
Take a look at my Facebook Page’s (Stand Against National Standards) blog on the Waitakere meeting last night!
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=385217543134
Mark says:
March 6, 2010 at 7:35 am (Edit)
Yes you should, you’d probably learn something
Mark – everytime I see Tolley I learn about another mess she has made.
Send someone “incognito” – with a hidden microphone.
Absolutely yes, keep up the pressure.
I like how Gnat is thinking….