Editorial: Debate leaves parents in dark | Wairarapa Opinion | Local Voices from Wairarapa, New Zealand

The story on today's front page came from a statement Dalefield principal Kevin Jephson sent the Times-Age about his concerns regarding National Standards, and the details of his school's performance.

He took that step despite the attention that would likely bring on his school.

Mr Jephson said the standards were a backwards step, and that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for all schools.

He said they're not realistic when a major challenge is keeping children in the classroom, fed and healthy and able to learn.

At the same time, other principals have backed the system, and said they clearly show what level a child is at in their learning.

It seems clear that the Government has no intention of altering its commitment to National Standards and yet the debate in the education sector continues as fierce as ever.

But where does that leave parents, who have to wade their way through both sides of the debate?

Five-year-olds heading to school for the first time this week will know nothing of this.

For them, it's enough to figure out when to eat their lunch and who to talk to at playtime.

Parents, though, are taking a leap of faith that the school they've chosen is doing the best by their kids, and giving them the best possible opportunity to learn.

So when one school can have such a vastly different perspective on national standards from the next, how do parents know where to stand, which camp to sit in?

Or is it enough knowing that your child comes home from school happy, and having learned something new?