NZEI joining Rocky Horror Advisory Group would be a mistake

Just recently, the minister set up a so-called independent advisory group, the National Standards Advisory Group (NSSAG) chaired by Gary Hawke. In an earlier posting I listed the membership of the group, describing it as grotesque, renaming it the Rocky Horror Advisory Group.

Last Friday, in a rather furtive manner, as a result of an agreement with Hawke, the teacher organisations made a presentation to the group.

The significant thing is that the purpose of NSSAG is to advance national standards, in other words, to work within the national standards framework. Hawke, however, would know that the organisations would be there to oppose national standards, and work outside them.

This is a sure sign that the minister is in the market for compromise. That is good, but we don’t want it to be an unsatisfactory one for us, so we need to proceed carefully.

I have information, however, that suggests that NZEI has agreed to join NSSAG if its presentation is accepted by the group (really the minister). Yes - if the minister responds favourably to the rewrite of NAG2A, NZEI plans to join NSSAG.

That is bad.

If NZEI does, it will be a major blunder. Not as serious as NZPF’s thwarted attempt to join NSSAG, but still very serious.

I don’t think it should join in any circumstances, but if it does, those circumstances need fundamental alteration.

There is no doubt that a rewrite of NAG2A would mean the end of national standards as we know them, but national standards are doomed anyway, Perry Rush and the brave 300 have seen to that.

I have to keep reiterating that we must stay together to guard against losing the peace. I predicted victory some months ago, but warned about the need for us to stay vigilant and united.

Clearly, NZEI has been in communication with NZPF (which has not committed to joining NSSAG – its presence was a one off), but the Wellington-based organisations have to bring all of us in on what is happening and why.

 How much discussion has there been in schools and NZEI branches about joining the NSSAG? How much discussion with Perry Rush and his group of schools? Now I know the brave 300 are all members of both organisations, but the reality is that this spearhead against national standards deserves special provision. After all, if it wasn’t for the brave 300, the minister wouldn’t be talking at all.

Gary Hawke is a convincing, avuncular-type hustler and could be just the type of person we can work with, but let’s do it with dignity and openness.

There is something worrying about a rushed job before Christmas when both organisations are set for a change of membership and leadership.

My overall view is that the organisations should not join NSSAG but talk to the minister using any conduit she suggests, whether the ministry, NSSAG, or a special group set up for the purpose. That will mean the teacher organisations are not bound to rules set by the minister, and mean the teacher organisations are equal in status with the opposing negotiators.

Consider the name: advisory. Discussions between the minister and the teacher organisations about national standards are not exchanges of advice they are an establishing of policy positions with a view to arriving at an agreed position based on compromise (yes – we will have to compromise to some extent).

The crucial point is that if the minister is genuinely seeking to move away from national standards, she will want to talk to us, it is in her political interest to talk to us, so she will find a way. But in us agreeing to a way, we must not put ourselves at a disadvantage.

If NZEI does decide to join NSSAG it would have to have the label ‘national standards’ removed from that group’s name, and its terms of reference would have to be appropriate to the task.

The main term of reference for NSSAG is to provide ‘a formal avenue for the education sector to contribute to the continuous improvement of the National Standards implementation.’

For a group to become satisfactory for the teacher organisations to join for the purpose of moving away from national standards, then the main term of reference should, I suggest, be along the lines of ‘a formal avenue for the education sector to contribute to the continuous improvement in literacy and numeracy.’

Then, having established that, the membership should reflect the new terms of reference: for instance, for Terry Crooks to replace Tom Nicholson.

NZEI is, of course, a sovereign organisation and its up to its members and leadership to decide what is in its best interests, I’m just a pesky person on the side-line – many of us hope, though,  that the leadership has consulted widely and gone through the necessary processes.

Let’s get this right.

We all shared in the burden, let us all share in the solution.