Hawke's Bay Herald MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1879. NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5539, 17 November 1879, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1879. NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Tnu education of tlie native race of this colony is a matter which, is of as much, concern to the European population as-- it is to the Maoris themselves. It is by the .means of education that we shall, be enabled to bring the two races into accord — to teach them to understand those political and social questions which affect the well-being of Europeans and Maoris, and which are at present almost entirely beyond their comprehension. And when that is accomplished the settlement of the "native difficulty" will be an easy matter. There is doubtless much to be attained before the native population is brought' into anything like an educated slate, but the progress that is being made with the several- native schools that have been establishcd'is not wholly unsatisfactory, and we may loot forward hopefully to a very different condition of matters among the Maoris when the present rising generation shall have attained puberty. We get to know something about what is now being done from a paper on native schools laid on the table of the House. We find there are sixty-four native schools :ia the Forth Island and thirteen in the Middle Island, and endeavors are being made to increase their number. The results of the inspection of the various schools ai'e given in the paper, together with remarks upon the most noticeable features in each school— remarks which in many instances are exceedingly pertinent and suggestive. For instance, speaking of the Periu school, Mongonui, the inspector points out the advantage of getting the native children to commence school while they are quite young, as there is then less difficulty in getting them on, while those who arc beyond early youth when they first go to school always retain a defective English pronunciation. Of the value of the native schools good evidence is given by Mr Spencer von Stunner, the llesident Magistrate at Hokianga. He says : " It is an undoubted fact that the village schools are working great good amongst the natives in the North, and doing much to break down that barrier which has hitherto, to a certain extent, stood between the two races. As a proof of which I may point out the very orderly and law-abiding conduct of the'uorthern natives in comparison with that of the more ignorant southern tribes. This is the more noticeable during the last eight or nine years, in Avliich period no serious trouble of any kind has occurred, and, when it is remembered that the numbers of the Karawa and Ngapuhi natives exceed' 7000, it is well worthy of consideration. I believe this state of things is in a great measure to be attributed to the establishment of native schools, as they have done much to give the Maoris a better knowledge of our manners and customs than they have had hitherto, and which they duly appreciate and are in many ways endeavoring to imitate. In a few more years, as the present pupils grow up to manhood, and take their places in the tribes, the improvement amongst them as a people will be "more marked and plainly visible to all j and in. the meantime the

■ — •- -■■ i native schools are deserving of every assistance and encouragement which mo Government may bestow upon them." in several instances we no'tiee the teachers are reported As inemcient, and unadapted ft* tile work entrusted td tlieni. T&is evil, we should think-, is iii- a great measure due to Hie Schools being 'trader the c'olitrol of\ the Native Department, instead of being included in our national educational system. Tile con- i sequence is tuat there is. not proper care j taktfi that the teachers arc 'competent add fit for their .wort, and tlie inspection of the school*? is very much neglected. The te'mcdy for this obviously is to place all the native schools under the Education Department, and the sooner that is done the greater likolih'oM there will be of attaining the object for which the schools have been established: It would be a pity if, for the want of an efficient system, the community should lose the benefits which the native schools would be the means of conferring.