Questions by parents surrounding issues perceived with National Standards

These come from the consultation feedback report for the Ministry of Education on National Standards. May help you to think a little bit more yourself on issues that other parents want to know.

Some parents had particular concerns:

Standards shouldn’t put a whole lot of extra burden on a school.

The school should support a “well-rounded child” – I’m concerned that National Standards in reading writing and maths will detract from other curriculum areas.

What about the issue of children’s school readiness in Year 1 and the importance of bringing them up to the required level before the end of their first year of learning?

The arrangements in the first few years of school are messy (assessment after the first, second and third year of schooling but at the end of Year 4 and so on). Teachers will be doing reports all year long.

I don’t want teaching to the standard and just a focus on those who struggle.

How do we get teachers not just to teach to the standard?

I’m concerned that kids who are at or above the standards will get lost in the system because the focus will be on those not achieving.

While we may have a universal standard, there may be different pathways in learning and teaching for achievement.

What about the self esteem of children who are not achieving?

Already children are not achieving but there is no funding to address problems – how will this be dealt with?

What help in the way of extra resources will be given for the child that’s struggling?

We need to acknowledge barriers to learning in some decile schools – teachers need to measure achievement from where they are.

Is there adaptability in the system? By the time kids get to intermediate there’s often been years of intervention.