Tolley on defensive at Lincoln meeting

Education Minister Anne Tolley defended the controversial national standards for schools at a low-key meeting in Lincoln last night.

Tolley rejected claims from teachers and parents in the 80-strong audience at the Lincoln Bowling Club near Christchurch that the new standards would demoralise children.

The standards measure every child aged five to 12 at, above, below or well below national literacy and numeracy standards.

Several schools around New Zealand have refused to introduce the standards until they have been trialled and teachers have been trained.

One parent said last night she was concerned the standards would demoralise children and start a "downward spiral".

A teacher said the newly introduced standards "added an extra burden" on the profession.

Tolley said the standards would inspire children to learn more.

"There is a lot of misinformation out there in the community and that is causing a lot of worry. Some statements are mischievous and I need to address them," she said.

"It is not about labelling children. It is about children making progress against the standards.

"When children know what those goals are you can lift standards dramatically."

Julia Rose, president of the Ellesmere branch of the primary teachers' union, the New Zealand Educational Institute, said after the meeting the new standards were reinventing the wheel and were not needed.

"We have standards and we know where the children are," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News