Jason Miles calls for politics to be taken out of the debate about education. Last week, Education Minister Erica Stanford talked to the  Otago Daily Times  about the changes she’s making to New Zealand’s education system. She stated her intent was to build ‘‘a solid foundation for New Zealand’s future’’. She spoke confidently about following ‘‘the science of learning’’ and gave assurances to principals and teachers they would have ‘‘all of the resources [and] the professional learning and development’’ needed for success. The minister’s narrative is compelling. Her promises sound good. But far too often her words don’t reflect the reality of her reforms. On one hand, the minister is saying to schools, ‘‘go at your own pace’’ and to ‘‘do what works best for you and your school’’. On the other, she’s saying that everything must happen ‘‘at the same time, and all right from the start’’. One fell swoop to the foundational legislation of our education system. Do it once. Do it right.…