“Major Mistakes” In Maori Education Plan

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29998, 6 December 1962, Page 2

“Major Mistakes” In Maori Education Plan

Disappointment at the first year’s activities of the Maori Education Foundation was expressed by the guest speaker at the prize-giving ceremony of Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls’ College on Tuesday evening.

Mr John Stewart, one of the two foundation members of the Friends of Te Wai Pounamu, said he believed the wonderful plan outlined in the Hunn report and in subsequent statements by the Minister of Maori Affairs seemed to have gone somewhat astray.

"What started off to be a 10-year crash programme to 'place the Maori on an equal "educational level with the .pakeha seems to have given .■way to a mild and modest money-raising organisation ;whose sole or main purpose -will be to award scholarships ; and bursaries,” he said. ’ “Two major mistakes have been made. One is that the trustees rushed into a moneyraising campaign before they ■■had planned their policy or even started to plan it By ."’policy’ I don’t mean an outline of the machinery of "operation—that is too easy. ■By policy I mean a definition 'and plain statement of the .aims and the objects of the foundation, with the methods coming last—not first. “The objective should surely be that which was toriginally envisaged—equality ‘.of educational standards between Maori and pakeha by elevating the Maori standards which are admittedly and ■understandably below that of 'the ‘average’ pakeha. • “The goal should equally purely be the attainment of ■this true equality in the shortest possible time so that the promise of Waitangi is at least kept—we shall be one people,” he said. The foundation's present .method of working seemed _to suggest that the Maori 'would always be below the

educational standard of the pakeha and would always need help which the pakeha child did not need.

“Could anything be more contrary to the spirit of the Hunn report?" asked Mr Stewart. “The first mistake was made in the legislation setting out the foundation —the provision that the foundation may spend only the interest on the money it receive®. This thing itself suggests something approaching perpetual life for the foundation, and the second mistake was made by the foundation itself which I have already referred to.

“I sincerely hope that, in the interests of all the people of New Zealand, both Maori and pakeha. both mistakes are rectified quickly. The need for speed is more urgent than many appear to realise,” Mr Stewart said. Academic Standard

The imemdiate past-presi-dent of the Friends of Te Wai Pounamu (Dr. D. E. Hansen) spoke briefly on the high academic standard of the school. The average of pupils' passes in recent school certificate examinations had been from 60 to 65 per oent., he said, whereas the average for New Zealand was only 50 to 55 per cent., and for Maori pupils throughout New Zealand only 23 per cent. The school’s present pupils came from all parts of the Dominion. "I don’t suppose there is any other school in New Zealand where the pupils are drawn from so many parts of the country. Last year, of the 40 girls here, 23 came from the North Island.” he said.

A display of physical education work was presented by the girls in the grounds of the college under the direction of Mrs J. A. Ellison.

After the prize-giving ceremony a display of juggling was given by Mr Ruas Muir. The retiring president of the Friends of Te Wai Pounamu (Mirs J. W. Huggins) accompanied him ait the piano. The girls then entertained with a programme of Maori action songs, stick games, poi dances, and bakes. These in-

eluded displays of the rare and difficult triple and double-double poi. Prizes presented were.— Inter-house swimming cup, Te Arawa; inter-house athletics cup, Mataaitua; inter-house basketball cup (Massetti trophy), Tainui; initer-fbrm basketball cup, Form 3; interhouse tennis cup, . Tainui; inter-house marching cup Te Arawa; elementary lifesaving certificates. Olive Kokiri, Sharon Ward, Dora McClurg. Anne Robertson Colleen Te Maiharoa, Miri Jones, Lillian White, Greta Peni; physical education bars, Olive Kokiri (third form), Lillian White (fourth form), Waimaria Wi Hapi (fifth form). Board of Governors interhouse sports shield, Te Arawa.

Class Prizes.—Sixth form, Venus Allison and Janice Lanauze; principal's prize for application to studies and coopertion in the house, Dianne Heperi (third form), Miriama Jones (fourth form), Amokura Tainui (fifth form); Maori Purposes Fund Board prize for leadership and scholastic attainment, Patricia Thompson.