So many people saying it better than I ever could

So straight to the links:

http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/the-destruction-of-new-zealands-public.html

http://publicaddress.net/busytown/school-bully/

http://publicaddress.net/busytown/testing-1-2-3/

This GERM is seriously infectious...

The Global Educational Reform Movement is an international phenomenon that is damaging  kids and education systems wherever (largely first world) politicians have managed to contrive to get it to take hold.

  Here's a good example of the Aussie version - they are a few years ahead of us in the GERM infection process - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1bhx3H5Qic&safe=active 

.... and here are two clips from Finnish expert Pasi Stahlberg - from Finland (not unsurprisingly) - the country at the top of OECD rankings; the country that has consciously retained the student-centred model that most OECD politicians have destroyed in their own jurisdictions: http://www.youtube.com/watch...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdgS--9Zg_0&safe=active

Meantime: here's the take of a long-time critic of National Standards; the redoubtable Kelvin Smythe http://www.networkonnet.co.nz/index.php?section=latest... 

Hidden inside the inevitable political spin - these are dangerous times (again!) for the future quality of education - is that what's happening now is the real reason National Standards were established. 

Seven widely respected colleagues...

Seven respected principals have written what is in effect, an open letter declaring their serious misgivings about the government's latest not-so-well-founded 'idea' for education.


Their views perfectly reflect my own and I certainly could not have penned a better criticism of neither "what" is being done; nor "how" it is being presented.


Read it for yourself at http://createsend.com/t/r-9970994E1AD41D2F2540EF23F30FEDED


Once again, NZ politicians are playing politics with education and therefore by extension, our kids' futures. Please share this widely.

GERM ....

An early election....this is what's happening while you're being distracted by such stuff: an easy watch with an ugly message...

http://accomplishedcaliforniateachers.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/germ-nz/