Discrimination in schools

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 16

Discrimination in schools

A report on Saturday recounted the objections of teachers in one North Island school, and the concern of some teachers in another, when faced with the teaching of an exchange student from South Africa. The anti-apartheid organisation, Hart, was also reported to have written to the second school, Edgewater College, Pakuranga, asking the school’s board of governors to reject the student. Such ethnic discrimination, or implied discrimination, cannot be tolerated in this country. It is to be hoped that the whole business is no more than a misunderstanding. The student presumably comes to New Zealand legitimately and is accepted on the understanding that some time in a New Zealand school is available. Those who object to apartheid in South Africa will always want to vent their distaste for the system. The Rotary exchange student, who might come from any of scores of countries in the world, should not be the object of their indignation. The Human Rights Commission Act is explicit on the law about educational establishments: it forbids discrimination against a pupil on the ground of ethnic or national origins. It even forbids discrimination on the ground of the ethnic or national origins of any relative or associate of a pupil. If Hart or the objecting teachers do not like this law, or want it amended to exclude pupils of South African

origin or connections, they should invite Parliament to change the law. They are unlikely to do so because the chances of such a change are obviously slim and the hypocrisy of such a change would be too conspicuous. The law, and the intent of the law, are small matters compared with the poisonous influence that such objections might have on some school pupils in their attitudes towards children of other countries, races, and religions who may share their classrooms. Justifying discrimination in one instance can amount to justification in any. The notion that some are to be shunned is abhorrent. Happily, most youngsters are not easily infected by siich thoughts. They are much more inclined to treat classmates on their individual merits, and even to accept a stranger with warmth and interest. The objecting teachers should take a lesson from their pupils in such matters. The report that Edgewater College teachers would accept exchange students from any country is much better news than came from the other school. Both the education authorities and the teachers’ professional organisations appear to have a need to remind some teachers of their responsibility and example in avoiding discrimination, even if it is an instrument to gratify their feelings about another country and its ways.