NZPF: Size does matter!

Ernie Buutveld.

The incoming president of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, Ernie Buutveld, says classroom size matters, and so does who is sitting in the classroom. He is not surprised by the reaction to John Hattie’s research, Visible Learning.

Media reports during January say Mr Hattie’s research casts serious doubt on the importance of homework, small class sizes and the school a child attends. Instead, the study shows that the key to effective teaching is the quality of the feedback students get, and their interaction with teachers.

Mr Buutveld, a Marlborough principal who took over as NZPF president earlier this year, says the reaction from some quarters reflects a simplistic view of the realities of NZ classrooms, schools and communities.

“Much of Mr Hattie’s research reinforces what good teachers and school leaders have known for some time. There are hundreds of teachers, principals and boards of trustees in NZ who are already working hard to put many of Mr Hattie’s findings into practice.”

Mr Buutveld says the quality of the learning relationship and the feedback between student and teacher is vitally important, but points out that they sit amidst a host of factors, including class size and student behaviour.

“There are myriad factors that influence effective teaching. I agree completely with John Hattie that the quality of the interaction and the nature of the feedback is important. But fewer students to a point, would lead to improved relationships and potentially raise the frequency and quality of the feedback a teacher is able to give students.

“Certainly fewer and less severe incidents of extreme behaviour would improve the quality markedly. The energy and time taken dealing with disruptive and violent behaviour robs students and teachers.”

Mr Buutveld says that calling Mr Hattie’s research ‘the Holy Grail’ is an overstatement.

“It suggests we can now conjure up a magic wand and simply wave it about for the perfect solution. That is a naive and simplistic approach.”

As for the debate around performance pay for teachers, Mr Buutveld says this could open a Pandora’s box of divisive practices in schools.

“How might one determine a level playing field before classes even commence? Putting exemplary teachers into positions of influence is certainly not the same as performance pay
“The minister is quite correct in saying this is a tricky issue.”

Mr Buutveld says the NZPF would like to see Mr Hattie’s research used alongside other work, to advance classroom practice in NZ.

“A balanced and reasoned response as to how our nation supports our complex learning environments and those who work in them is needed, and that response needs to involve both those within and beyond the education sector.”