ABSTRACT
This chapter draws lessons for educational researchers from the media treatment of introducing ‘Kiwi Standards’ (National Standards) into New Zealand primary schools in 2009. While the Kiwi Standards policy had some supporters, it was heavily contested by many primary teachers, principals and academics. Initially it was difficult for those opposing the Kiwi Standards to get much traction with the media and some media companies pursued the public release of Kiwi Standards data in their newspapers and websites. Those opposing Kiwi Standards were also subjected to conservative attack blogs in what became known as ‘Dirty Politics’. But the public release of data never took off and over the years the media gradually became more critical of the National-led Government that had introduced the Kiwi Standards. Eventually, with a change of government, the Kiwi Standards policy was thrown out in 2017. The author reflects on his own experiences whilst undertaking research on the Kiwi Standards. Issues discussed include research ‘independence’, the reporting of research findings and the tensions between being a researcher and an activist. It is argued that challenges to the legitimacy of research and academic involvement in public debate through the media are best anticipated and addressed by educational researchers as part of their work. More than media training, this could involve careful consideration of the political and media climate within which educational research is being carried out and disseminated.
