EDUCATING THE MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18088, 12 May 1922, Page 4

EDUCATING THE MAORI.

IMPROVED STATUS NEEDED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAWERA, Thursday. The education of Maori scholars under tho jurisdiction of the Taranaki Education Board is receiving special attention, particularly in view of the fact that the number in tho lower.aclasses is altogether out of proportion to those in the higher standards Out of all the boys and girls attending the primajy schools in the education district there are only five in Standard VI. Mr. P. J. White, chairman of tho Education Board, who takes a particularly keen interest in Maori affairs, expressed the opinion that it was very gratifying to know that the Maoris had recently shown considerable improvement in matters of hygiene and health, due particularly he believed tp the influence of Ratana. This remark applied particularly to parts erf Taranaki. He thought efforts should be made to further interest the natives in the educational opportunities that now offered. It had been said that of all Polynesians, the Maori was tho only one who had successfully maintained * his ' position while living among white people. Very- soon there would be a complete fusion of the two races. Therefore it was felt that it was only' necessary to call attention to the desirability of native children attending the higher classes. Where Maori children did proceed- to these, classes it was found that thev were fully capable of imbibing the education imparted. At one school' Mr. White had recently visited a Maori lad was the outstanding scholar. , The Education Board is now writing to all Maoris, pointing out the educational advantages to be trained, with a view to improving the general educational status of the Maori.