“No Idea Of Segregation In Maori Schools”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29153, 14 March 1960, Page 10

“No Idea Of Segregation In Maori Schools”

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL. March 13. “There has never been any intention to segregate Maoris in Maori schools, and this has never been the Maoris’ idea," said the Senior Inspector of Maori Schools (Mr K. I. Robertson) addressing the Federation of School Committees’ Associations in Invercargill on Saturday. Mr Robertson, speaking generally on Maori education, said this when clearing up some “serious misconceptions” about Maori education. This misconception was easily refuted by the fact that 10 per cent, of the pupils in Maori schools were Europeans, said Mr Robertson. If any segregation had taken place, it was not the fault of the Maori, but of school transport authorities who found it expedient to by-pass Maori schools for white schools. “We accept that there is a lower standard of education in Maori schools. Most of them are in isolated areas, and children in isolated areas, notwithstanding thei r race, are inclined to be backward This is especially true of Maori children. But we do our best to follow the same syllabus as other schools follow.” he said. The question was whether a teacher in a Maori school would get a job in another school was often asked, said Mr Robertson and it seemed many people thought that the teachers in Maori schools were less competent than their colleagues Sense of Mission “Teachers in Maori schoolshave p sense of mission and are in many ways luckier than their colleagues When a teacher applies for a Maori school he knows what he is going to—he knows he will teach Maoris. And

likewise, the children are more fortunate for they have a teacher who knew what he was going to and who wanted teach them.” said Mr Robertson Many persons thought that the k education vr*nt for Maori schools

was too great, and that the Maori school was being favoured before the board school, but this was not so, he continued There was no such thing as a Maori quota for education —it was the Maor schools’ quota There was no doubt that the Maori- did need extra help He had only 10 per cent, of the chance the pakeha had of ever getting to university Few Maoris had the chance of studying—and succeeding in professional occupations. But the Maori was helping himself to make the Maori schools’ quota go further “For instance, in a Maori school the money which would normally be spent on cleaning is used to buy books and amenities The children do the cleaning themselves, and I say without hesitation that a Maori school is far more hygienical!? and spotlessly kept than any board school, in New Zealand, because the Maori children take a pride in their schools.” he said “There’s no easy money given Maori schools.” Earlier, the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) told the conference that the one thing the Maori wanted today before all else, was education. The Maori was being given the best opportunity today for a sound education, the Minister said. Maori schools were well looked after, staffed by dedicated people, and their standard was good. “This is the time, with other arguments of a racial nature going on. to see that our education is fully inegrated and that both Maori and pakeha are working for a common good. Mr Skoglund said.

Search For Two Boys.— Two Timaru boys, who escaped from the Lookout Point Boys’ Home at Dunedin on Wednesday evening, had not been found last evening Th* are believed to have a i motor-cycle.