[Greens-Media] Firth, Gillard are responsible for NAPLAN test bans

[John Kaye]

Firth, Gillard are responsible for NAPLAN test bans
 
Media release: 5 May 2010
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye accused both the state and federal education ministers of failing to work with teachers to reform the 'my school' website to protect students, schools and educational outcomes. 
 
Dr Kaye said: "Julia Gillard and Verity Firth are pursuing a war on public school teachers.
 
"The ministers are not listening to valid concerns raised by professional educators and experts.
 
"Simplistic school comparisons are distorting education and stigmatising schools that serve disadvantaged communities.
 
"Teachers are acting to protect all students in all schools.
 
"Julia Gillard and Verity Firth are trying to stop teachers exercising their professional conscience. This is a dangerous precedent that would allow health ministers to dictate to doctors the type of  procedures they should administer to their patients. 
 
"Teachers are to be congratulated for their commitment to all education and to the public system.
 
"The ministers should take particular note of the strong response from selective public schools where students do uniformly well in NAPLAN.
 
"Julia Gillard's 'my school' website could be reformed to stop simplistic comparisons. 
 
"Replacing the average test results with far more meaningful distributions of outcomes within each school would provide more information to parents and stop the formation of league tables.
 
"Her persistent refusal to even talk to the Australian Education Union about their compromise offer is forcing  teachers to act," Dr Kaye said. 
 
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