Reading rankings

I was never a fan of the introduction of National Standards, but I do not accept the union spin and politicised media reports that they are to blame for New Zealand slipping down the international rankings in reading.

There are too many other things happening at the same time to isolate one factor. Something that a lot of education ‘‘research’’ fails to recognise.

For example, poor parenting due to social media and smartphones, leading to less reading mileage with their children; the rise of modern learning environments; the rise of internet as entertainment; and the general Kiwi attitude to homework.

We also have extremely high levels of truancy and bullying in New Zealand schools, which are probably the real reasons.

National Standards is an assessment tool, not a teaching method, so it should not make any difference to actual achievement unless teachers are artificially teaching to the assessment.

Good teachers, as we have in New Zealand, don’t to this, and even if they do, the National Standards are so generically written (one of the reasons why it has been hard to apply a standard nationally) that it can’t affect reading achievement any way, except upwards.

PETER BERTRAM School principal, Masterton

In the reported case, there was no way of verifying with anyone whether the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) tattoo was legal and current. The patient’s written request was later found at his home, after his death, which was probably a relief to those who’d been unable to have it confirmed at the time, as he had no ID on him.

The article referred to ‘‘likely unfounded beliefs that tattoos might represent permanent reminders of regretted decisions made while the person was intoxicated’’. If that were the case, perhaps having it removed later, when sober, could be an option, although this might be unaffordable. Or the person might decide it had been a good idea after all.

For New Zealand, perhaps one option could be to have a DNR tattoo include the person’s NHI number. If this could be checked immediately, there would be no delay for emergency personnel in making a decision.

DAPHNE TOBIN

Porirua water-saving measures the council suggests.

However, what is our council doing? Why is it not building more water storage facilities; after all, this is not a new issue.

We have planned ahead and invested time and money in water storage; isn’t it time the council did the same? Or am I a Christmas Grinch for thinking maybe it would have been a better way to spend my rates than an unwanted cycleway or a fireworks evening for Matariki?

ROSE JORDAN Tawa organisation, not an infrastructure organisation’’ (More RNZ jobs to be shifted to Auckland, Dec 8).

A significant area of NZ is not served by FM radio services, with AM the only reliable service.

Natural disasters have demonstrated the incalculable value of RNZ simulcast services to deliver critically important information to citizens.

RNZ is a public service radio institution and its role is to deliver that service to as many citizens as possible. For RNZ to take it on itself to redefine its role as indicated is a gross failure to many citizens and must not be permitted unless there is an absolute guarantee that service coverage is at least maintained.

LOU BIRD Karori