NEW ZEALAND HAS A PROBLEM. A BIG PROBLEM.
20% of our children leave high school without the reading, writing and math skills they need to cope effectively in a modern economy. This is simply not good enough. It presents a huge cost on the rest of society, in terms of lost opportunity and wasted capability. Some of the direct costs manifest in our crime statistics and benefit numbers.
Every family from every suburb has aspirations for their children. They want them to have a better life than they have had themselves. We need to unleash the potential in all our children and give them the opportunity to be the very best they can.
We have two options. Wring our hands and hope that the 20% problem will fix itself. Or face the issue head on and deal with it. I am firmly in the second camp.
Facing the issue involves measuring our children in reading, writing and mathematics against National Standards. It then involves reporting these measures to parents in plain english that is easy to understand. It then involves a partnership between the school, the parents and the children to address any concerns that have been identified.
Parents play a huge role and the pendulum of responsibility needs to swing back towards them. The smart schools will realise this early in the piece. Involving parents in an open and transparent manner in their childs achievement, together with giving them the tools to help at home, can and will lead to huge gains. This could mean bringing parents into the school to teach them basic strategies to help address areas of weakness.
Some principals and teachers are unhappy with this new initiative. They say that it will ruin the collegiality of the teaching profession. I disagree entirely! Teaching is probably the only profession in the world that continues to hide the worst performers (those who just turn up for lunch) and to not recognise the passionate teachers, of which there are many, who genuinely make a difference in our kids lives.
National will not be going backwards on National Standards. We were elected to implement them and we are doing just that. There will be no trials, we are simply getting on and setting a better future for our children.
20% of our children leave high school without the reading, writing and math skills they need to cope effectively in a modern economy. This is simply not good enough. It presents a huge cost on the rest of society, in terms of lost opportunity and wasted capability. Some of the direct costs manifest in our crime statistics and benefit numbers.
Every family from every suburb has aspirations for their children. They want them to have a better life than they have had themselves. We need to unleash the potential in all our children and give them the opportunity to be the very best they can.
We have two options. Wring our hands and hope that the 20% problem will fix itself. Or face the issue head on and deal with it. I am firmly in the second camp.
Facing the issue involves measuring our children in reading, writing and mathematics against National Standards. It then involves reporting these measures to parents in plain english that is easy to understand. It then involves a partnership between the school, the parents and the children to address any concerns that have been identified.
Parents play a huge role and the pendulum of responsibility needs to swing back towards them. The smart schools will realise this early in the piece. Involving parents in an open and transparent manner in their childs achievement, together with giving them the tools to help at home, can and will lead to huge gains. This could mean bringing parents into the school to teach them basic strategies to help address areas of weakness.
Some principals and teachers are unhappy with this new initiative. They say that it will ruin the collegiality of the teaching profession. I disagree entirely! Teaching is probably the only profession in the world that continues to hide the worst performers (those who just turn up for lunch) and to not recognise the passionate teachers, of which there are many, who genuinely make a difference in our kids lives.
National will not be going backwards on National Standards. We were elected to implement them and we are doing just that. There will be no trials, we are simply getting on and setting a better future for our children.
