National Standards always appeared to be a way of getting League tables in by stealth, but now with a shonky mandate, who needs stealth? How about privatisation of our schools- let's call them "Charter schools". Why would NZ adopt these policies, when we rank higher in OECD statistics than the countries (UK, US...) where these policies failed? How are league tables or Nat. Stds. going to reduce the tail of under-achievers- which is where our problem is? Repeatedly measuring the pig isn't going to make it any fatter, we need to devote the resources to shortening the pigs tail.

What about "gagmachine"? Hope it does the job at Pike River eh? Could be used re: Wikileaks too..?