So, I’ve been asked by folks in #Nbpoli about this Brian Kenny interview today. Ministers matter, so I will respectfully reply.

'Stability' of school system pushed test scores upward, education minister says | CBC News cbc.ca/news/canada/ne…

1. I get a bit worried when a minister says that test results from early 2016 reflect a plan released in September 2016. It suggests perhaps a shaky grasp of policy, a hyperpartisan bent, or worst of all an inability to grasp the concept of time and the temporal plane. #nbpoli

2. I would expect a minister to join in a sincere examination of what worked, and what didn’t. He may, of course, reach different conclusions. But what are we to make of a minister who yells “We did it! Us!” when his govt planned 5 of these kids’ 102 months in school pre-test?

3. I guess, to take Min. Kenny at his word, we’d say “OK, what did your government do differently in those five months?” It wasn’t the education plan — that wasn’t released until after. So, what did Min. Kenny’s government do to prepare for the 2015-16 school year? #nbpoli

4. The answer is ....oh.

They fired 200 teachers. That was what the Gallant government did.

google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.…

5. Now, Min. Kenny’s other answer is “stability” helped. Which, I assume, means the absence of changes and (in this telling) the “instability” of the Graham years. Except.....

6. Obviously, five months in which you fire 200 teachers and make the biggest cut to DECs in 22 years isn’t “stability”. If post-Graham “stability” was the key, then @jodycarr_mla can take a bow (and maybe he can).

7. But let’s remember that we have another set of data to challenge Min.Kenny. The students who began school under the Gallant government were tested at Gr.2. And their results in reading were lower than ANY result under the Graham or Alward government.

Inconvenient. But true.

8. Plus, Kenny’s answers lack internal logic.

1. If “stability” after 2010 helped, and stability=no big changes, why move the EFI entry point (a big change) over teacher objections?

2. And if he thinks 2015 teacher cuts didn’t hurt, why run ads saying Higgs might cut teachers?

9. The answer is, of course, that the Minister is not serious about having a public discussion with evidence and logic. Brian Kenny is not a dumb person at all. And when he makes arguments only a dumb guy can make (The Sept 2016 plan changed the Feb 2016 tests) he’s spinning.

10. Here’s the sad part. The kids that began in 2007 have now had the highest NB literacy scores at Gr2, a big PISA jump at Gr5, and a big PCAP jump in Gr8. He was part of the govt for their first 4 yrs of school, and today his boss made him run out and claim that didn’t matter.

11. So, yes, it’s sad that the Minister of Education would sell out kids’ best interests today to repeat talking points for his boss. But, also, he was also willing to sell out his own independent thought, pride and self-respect. It’s a tough government to be part of. #nbpoli