[Greens-Media] Meeting highlights unified opposition to school league tables

[John Kaye]

Meeting highlights unified opposition to school league tables
 
Media release: 27 August 2009
 
Teachers, parents and students from both the public and private sectors
will express their strong opposition to school league tables at a
meeting at Rosehill Racecourse this afternoon, according to Greens NSW
MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye who will address the meeting said: "Simplistic comparisons
based on common testing results stigmatise schools that serve
disadvantaged communities. 
 
"They undermine quality education in all schools as teachers are forced
to focus on boosting test results at the expense of the rest of the
curriculum.
 
"Premier Nathan Rees has threatened to introduce legislation to repeal
the Greens’ amendment that bans the publication of league tables in
newspapers in NSW.
 
"Today’s meeting sends a strong message to the Rees government: leave
the ban in place.
 
"Reducing the complex activities of a school down to a single number
will inevitably damage education and mislead the community.
 
"Simplistic comparisons do not provide accountability, they do not help
struggling schools and they do not inform parents.
 
"Real gains in education come from working with schools to boost
educational outcomes, not pitting them against each other in a
meaningless competition.  
 
"NSW Education Minister Verity Firth should put the students first and
maintain the ban on league tables in NSW," Dr Kaye said. 
 
Meeting details: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse 4:30 pm Thursday, 27
August 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000