Carter Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Carter Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:668;Page:15245] 
7. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Independent—Te Atatu) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does she stand by her assurance to the House on 9 November 2010 that it was never her intention to dismiss boards of trustees of primary and intermediate schools who refuse to implement her national standards policy? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Education 
: Yes. A formal process is in place to ensure that schools have the support they need to implement national standards and that is before any consideration is given to possible further steps. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: If it was never her intention to dismiss non-complying boards as she told my very good friend and former colleague the Hon Trevor Mallard on Tuesday— 
Hon Members 
: Oh oh! 
Hon Chris Carter 
: One of my 17 friends—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Sometimes the Speaker has to admit that the Speaker has lost it and I have sure lost that one. I think members have had their fun. Please treat the questioner with respect. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Thank you Mr Speaker. It reminds me of when I was a teacher during the last period on Fridays. If it was never her intention to dismiss non-complying boards as she told my good friend and former colleague the Hon Trevor Mallard on Tuesday why did she respond to a reporter’s question in February of this year by saying that dismissing boards who do not comply was an option? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The Minister’s comments in February reflected what the law actually provided for and that law of course was passed under a former Labour Government. As the Minister has made clear there is an escalation process which has a number of decision points and opportunities for assisting boards of trustees to implement national standards. This process would contrast with the Labour Party escalation process when it has a problem which is basically to go from hero to zero. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Perhaps you could help me. It seems to me that the answer—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the member. I say to National Party members on this occasion that it is a point of order. Although they may not be impressed they should treat the House with respect. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: It seems to me that my primary question was quite simple. I asked whether dismissal of non-complying boards was an option. I was told initially that it was not. I have quite good eyesight and the chart the— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot litigate an answer by way of a point of order. The Minister gave a perfectly clear answer to the question and the member cannot litigate it by way of point of order. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Does she agree with Liz Horgan principal of St Joseph’s School Otahuhu who wrote last week that the actions of more than 200 boards of trustees last week in opposition to the national standards policy demonstrated a growing number of boards who recognise that using guesswork and hopelessly crude methodologies are not a desirable way to run schools or assess pupils; or indeed with Professor John Hattie who said earlier this year that the Minister’s national standards were a hopelessly crude way of raising student achievement? Does she agree with those statements; if not why not? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: No the Minister does not agree with those statements. I am very disappointed that some boards have taken the action that the member refers to. I note that the  
New Zealand Herald  
today reports that up to one-third of those schools are actually getting on with implementing national standards. It is disappointing that these schools are participating in a union-driven agenda affecting children’s education. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I seek leave to table a copy of the press conference where Mrs Tolley said that dismissal was an option. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is this a press statement? 
Hon Chris Carter 
: No it is a transcript from her interview. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I seek leave to table a letter from Liz Horgan Principal of St Joseph’s School Otahuhu outlining her concerns about national standards. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is this seeking leave to table another document? 
Hon Chris Carter 
: It is. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I ask the member to just list the documents he wishes to table and give the House— 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I would be happy to do that. I thought that you wanted them individually. I seek leave to table a document from Mr John Hattie professor of education from Waikato University outlining his concerns about national standards. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I take it that it is a letter. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: It is an outline from the  
New Zealand Herald  
on his assessment. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No we will not be seeking leave to table that document.