Comments on: I Hear Your Concerns- Yeah Right!

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:57:15 +0000

I know it’s a bit late to be commenting on this since the deadline has been and gone for submissions but I firmly believe that the National Standards will turn many schools and teachers into a teaching for assessment model as opposed to an assessing for teaching model.

True, we have a long tail in literacy here, but if, as teachers we are having to be using time to assess and moderate on top of the formative assessment we already do, it takes away from the learning and time we can spend getting the kids on the tail up to their peers. Doesn’t that sound like a vicious circle.

I like the idea of reporting to parents in “non-teacher talk” and the parent/school/student partnership – we are currently setting this as our way of reporting from the get-go at our school, but whether the MOE like it or not league tables will be generated.

By: Mark Buckland

Mark Buckland — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:35:40 +0000

I understand your frustration Melodie. It sounds like the school that your child is attending is not providing the support that either you or your son need. I think you need to speak to the school (more seriously) about your son’s maths and work out what the next step should be for him.

Unfortunately, the implementation of National Standards would not improve this situation. You would be told that your son is not reaching the desired standards, but not help you to “fix the problems” so to speak. These are steps that schools should be taking as a matter of course, irrespective of National Standards.

I teach seniors in a primary school and as is, I struggle to find the time to teach my class the basic skills or reading, writing and mathematics because their are so many requirements and expectations made upon us. Implementing National Standards will further increase this pressure, and in my mind reduce the effect that we teachers can have on our students’ learning.

Having children of my own, I understand your view point and your concerns. I feel that our schooling system needs a change to address the needs of all learners like your son. I just don’t think that National Standards is the answer.

Thank you for showing us the view from the other side of the coin.

By: AllanahK

AllanahK — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:32:21 +0000

Hi Melodie

Thank you so much for a parent’s perspective. The more I teach I think the more I realise the helping children learn is a partnership between the parents, the school and the child. Much more effective when we all work together. I suppose the state has right to a say as they want results and effective teaching but I know that league table comparing school is not the answer.

I feel your anguish in trying to help your son keep up with his peers. In New Zealand we don’t have the summer school concept and everyone keeps with their age appropriate peers and we do our best to cater for students through differentiated ability group teaching within that scenario.

If a child falls behind we try and give teacher aide support within the class but this again works best if the teaching in the classroom is consolidated and supported at home.

Thanks again for your prespective.

By: Melodie

Melodie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:21:40 +0000

As a parent it is extremely frustrating. I feel like the school only cares about their report card back to the state, not about the students and what areas they are struggling in. I am trying to be proactive. My oldest son has always struggled with Math. It has always been hard for him to get through it. He is in middle school. So as usual this year we struggled this year in Math, but because he didnt have to take the state test for math this year, it didnt matter that he failed the class. They are going to promote him on to the next grade… no summer school, no nothing. So as usual, trying to be responsible, I went out and bought books and workbooks to try to help him so he can ready for the next year… It is frustrating and you really start to feel like they dont care about the students. So, I am just tyring to do my best and keep pushing him at home.

By: National Stand’duds’ | Leading Learning in the 21st Century and Beyond

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:13:34 +0000

[...] Stand’duds’ | Leading Learning in the 21st Century and Beyond on Comments by Anne TolleyLife is not a race to be first finished » Blog Archive » I Hear Your Concerns- Yeah Righ… on Comments by Anne TolleyJane on The Principal and the NZ Curriculumisaacd on Blogging from the [...]

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:25:43 +0000

I agree with lots of what you are thinking – you have put into words what I’m sure lots think.
I too have a big concern re;what the std will be in terms of moderation, what 1 school, 1 teacher says a child can do – and is it all things at that level – just some, etc,,,??? to say they reach that level may well be different to std another teacher and/or school says.
Also the leaving out of some students, for ESOL and special needs – what level is this determined by…and does that then show the true need within a school ?

They have based nat std’s on 1 of several things, 1 is the draft literacy learning progressions, which 1 year ago they told us was aspirational, and now being used as std’s. I see a lot of what in these progressions are what is included in nat stds , so what was aspirational is now the std. ! seems a big leap to me.

Good in terms of some will have to pick up their pace, that is not a bad thing. Some schools still carrying out assessment half way into the year and their teaching prog’s haven’t started yet (true fact) ! So maybe some guidelines on what to assess and how much would be a good idea.

I agree the measuring doesn’t mean that learning takes place – or growing !

And the research from other countries where this measurement doesn’t work – in terms of ‘making students better learners’ must surely be taken into account. They have trialled it, given it a go, lets take a different path !

By: Mark Buckland

Mark Buckland — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:18:20 +0000

Thanks for the post, Allanah. I hadn’t given the standards much thought when they first came out, but after having a good look at them over the last few days, and reading the opinions of others, it seems clear that they are not the answer to ‘our problems’ that the government would like to think they are.

I don;t think that I would have such a problem with them if they were an original concept. Not only do schools have their own standards already, but the fact that other countries and states have tried them already without success frustrated me. Why does the Ministry think that they can make this work when others have not? Are they that arrogant?

I am concerned that they will implement these standards despite the backlash and negative feedback. After all, this has been on the agenda since before the election – it’s hard to see them backing down now.

By: greg carroll

greg carroll — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:06:33 +0000

Good on you …. a good summary of largely the same speil we got too.
It is dishonest for the MoE to assert that any sort of aggregation of data nationally or regionally will not be subject to an Official Information Act request and subsequently end up in the media. It is the sort of stuff journos and editors get orgasmic about.

We were told the change in percentages you quoted was for maths not across the board – interesting.
more jargon – we have been using OBJ for ages now …. calling it teacher judgement or ‘best fit’.

Lots of thinking for all of us to do here … and no time to do it. I guess thats the point!
enjoy your Friday, Greg

By: Allanahk

Allanahk — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:03:06 +0000

Thanks Lisa. Yes I should have mentioned that overseas countries that have gone down the National Testing path have found it to be a nightmare. We have done/are doing such great work exploring the possibilities of the new curriculum it would be such a shame to see it gone down the gurgler as teachers give their energy into teaching to the test.

http://www.notonthetest.com/

Hate to see my teaching end up being focussed on ensuring children pass the National Standard.

By: Lisa Parisi

Lisa Parisi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:51:52 +0000

My most important comment – please, please, please look at what is happening in the United States because of NCLB and testing! Teaching has almost come to a standstill while we prepare students to pass tests, the results of which are returned too late to affect any teaching in the present year. After years of NCLB we have no great results to show – student learning did not improve, teacher knowledge did not improve, children don’t like school any better (in fact I would guess they like it less). And those of us who want better for our students fight the system at every turn. Don’t go down that path.