Letter: Untested system folly in the making

OPINION: The Government's introduction of national standards for primary schools is seriously flawed.

Where a student ranks on a national scale compared with his or her peers matters far less than whether a student reaches his or her potential. Unfortunately, less able students who achieve their potential will be written off as below or well below average.

Students will very quickly become aware whether they are regarded as successful or not and perform to the expectation that teachers and parents have of them.

So, where is the incentive for less able students to try harder?

If the Government thinks national standards are so worthwhile, why have they not been trialled? And why does no other country in the world use them? It is like buying a car which has not been road-tested.

Finally, who will be rated as the better teacher - the one who teaches to the assessment only or the one who gives students an all-round education, including social skills and helping them to reach their potential? Sadly, the formal teacher with better results on paper will be rated more highly.

GRAEME KEALL

Levin

- © Fairfax NZ News

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