Racist bullying problem in some Hamilton schools

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 19

Racist bullying problem in some Hamilton schools

PA Hamilton Racist bullying in some Hamilton schools, affecting both Maori and Pakeha children, is worrying the city’s Claudelands work group. Name-calling and bullying of Maori children at primary school is leading to some Pakeha secondary pupils being pushed around by their Maori classmates, says the mostly Maori work cooperative. Children from only a handful of families are involved but have a big impact, said a spokesman for the group, Buddy Ormsby.

A recent Claudelands work group meeting drew 180 people to talk of concerns “with the growing racial. discrimination creeping into schools.” Mr Ormsby said the meeting agreed that school committees and teachers were trying to combat racial discrimination.

“But the problem has to

be confronted in the homes if any success is to be achieved,” he said. Mr Ormsby said in one case a Maori child, called names and bullied by a Pakeha child, needed professional help before he could be encouraged back to school.

Others at the meeting told similar stories, he said.

"But because they were not conversant with red tape and Pakeha protocol, they either did nothing or encouraged their children to use violence.”

The violent response could be seen in many Hamilton secondary schools, Mr Ormsby said.

"Pakeha children are being harassed by large bullying Maori . groups who have back-up systems extending to older members of the family and Maori gangs.” Mr Ormsby said two Pakeha pupils had told him harassment at their city secondary school was so bad that they had

transferred to a country college, encouraging their friends to follow.

The work group meeting called for racial problems at schools to be settled on neutral ground where Maori parents could speak freely. “Public schools, although they are regarded by Pakeha as public property, are seen as part of the Pakeha establishment by many Maori," Mr Ormsby said.