Maori language

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 22

Maori language

Sir,—Mr E. Munro, the Education Department’s Maori and Island education adviser, was quoted (“The Press,” October 14) as saying: “Through the 1940 s and even into the 1950 s chih dren had been punished for speaking Maori.” Will he please answer these questions: (1) In the complete history of New Zealand State education, has there ever been any law, regulation, rule or directive to teachers to punish children for speaking Maori? (2) If there have been, could he give the dates and sources of such laws, etCi and when, if ever, they were abrogated. (3) If he cannot give specif* ic evidence in his answers, I would expect apologies to be given to the thousands of teachers who have been maligned over the last few years as having “strapped children for speaking Maori.” — Yours, etc.,

CHARLES WILSON. October 14, 1980.

(Mr Enoka Munro, southern region Maori and Island education adviser to the Department of Education, replies:. “Regarding the speak-

ing of Maori in the school grounds, especially through the late 19305. early 19405:— (1) No there has not ever been an official Jaw. regulation, rule' or. directive forbidding the speaking of Maori in the school grounds in our New Zealand Education- system. (3) Nevertheless it happened. I myself and others in our: school were strapped (I -saw them); it also" happened to a next village school (Maori — 450, children). I believe-it ■was an unwritten, law grapevine understanding —r among principals teaching in Maori schools. In fairness, the idea, which was condoned by many Maori elders, was I think to hurry the acquisition of the English language.among Maori children* I am not overly concerned about the past, but very ap-, prehensive about the present;, .and future. - The casualties have ‘ :en- too great- One cannot condemn anything if* it was done with the best of-J intention-- I wonder if your, correspondent has read a-; paper by. Mr A. Ball, founerinspector (senior) of Maori schools ’ 1930-40 period, titled, “If only we knew, then, what we know now.”: The strapping ’ of Maori children for speaking Maori,', language in schools was in fact fairly general. I have heard many, many other* Maoris f om different areas talk about this.”) , .