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October 19, 2022
Playground taunts in school streaming defence
Gideon Porter
Posted On October 19, 2022
Download AudioA senior lecturer in education and social work says supporters of streaming are turning to name-calling to justify out-of-touch positions.
The Post Primary Teachers Association has called for an end to classroom streaming by 2030, citing its negative effects on Māori and Pasifika pupils.
Auckland University’s Dr Paul Heyward says defenders of streaming are claiming the drive to end the practice of dividing students by supposed ability is woke.
“Do they think research evidence-based practice is woke? Because basically what we are talking about is moving to practices that are strength-based, that draw on the cultural backgrounds of learners and are proven to lift everybody,” he says.
Dr Heyward says streaming has always led to “smart” classes versus “slower” classes – whether that was the intent or not – and Maori and Pasifica pupils have borne the brunt of the practice.
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