Principals get a telling off

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Education Minister Anne Tolley yesterday told hundreds of principals to be quiet, go back to school and do as they're told, and that national standards were staying.

The minister refused to take questions from the floor during a half-hour speech to more than 550 delegates on the final day of the New Zealand Principals' Federation conference in Queenstown.

Ms Tolley said the standards were introduced as a tool to ensure every child gained foundation skills in literacy and numeracy and were designed to support the New Zealand curriculum.

"We all know that by themselves the standards won't change things. They merely provide benchmarks that indicate where action is needed, and inform the next steps for teaching and learning for teachers, students and for parents.

"I know the vast majority of schools, regardless of any personal opinions, are getting on with the task of implementing the national standards."

Parents were driving the implementation of national standards and there was no putting the genie back in the bottle, Mrs Tolley said.

Delegates should email her department rather than "politicking" in public and state servants were not granted the privilege of picking and choosing the law, she said.

On Thursday, the federation voted overwhelmingly in favour of opposition to the standards.

The Southland Times understands disgruntled principals discussed holding a silent protest or calling for a vote of no confidence in the minister, but this was shot down by the federation executive.

It is understood that before Ms Tolley arrived at the conference, the executive agreed with the minister that federation members would be instructed to act professionally and refrain from walking out or heckling.

As Ms Tolley discussed national standards' teacher training, she was greeted with laughter and groans.

Southland Primary Principals' Association president Wendy Ryan said she was disturbed because there was such strong opposition to the standards.

Schools in the south tried hard to go down the right path and she was absolutely appalled by the minister's plea for teachers to email her.

"She doesn't answer our emails," she told The Southland Times.

Mrs Ryan said the minister was well aware principals had sincere concerns and teachers were either unable or unwilling to undergo training.

Invercargill Salford School principal Marlene Campbell said she was disappointed in the minister and national standards was a shambles. "The damage that's done and the stress that's inflicted on our teaching staff and students is unacceptable.

"I am enraged that she can come in here and tell us we have to attend that training."

The federation wanted the Ministry of Education to go back to basics and discuss how best to use multimillion-dollar funding to improve numeracy and literacy, she said.

Waverley Park Primary School principal Kerry Hawkins said there was nothing new in the minister's speech.

Federation executive member Philip Harding said it was time principals acted and talked to the "puppetmaster, not the puppet."

Federation president Ernie Buutveld said the reaction to the "unworkable" standards showed the depth of feeling and alarm among principals.

He said national standards was one of the greatest reforms of the modern era but it was also important not to overlook the social context, including poverty, income levels and parenting.

"The only way is to seek a complete review of the system. Fundamental flaws ... need revision," he said.

The Government introduced national standards this year to assess year 1 to 8 pupils in literacy and numeracy.

After Ms Tolley's appearance, she officially opened the new gym at Dunstan High School in Alexandra.

- © Fairfax NZ News