EDUCATION AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22194, 22 August 1935, Page 15

EDUCATION AFFAIRS

INSTRUCTING MAORI PUPILS CHOICE OF TEACHER SOUGHT The question of staffing schools attended predominantly by Maoris was considered at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board yesterday, when a memorandum was received from the Education Department asking the board's opinion on a petition from Maoris for the Pakotai school, Whangarei, to be converted into a native school. The school commissioner reported that Maoris, including half and quarter-castes, had always been in a majority of three to one on the school roll. He favoured separate schools for Europeans and Maoris in the district. The opinion was expressed by Mr. S. B. Sims that Europeans were definitely handicapped bv attending native schools.

Mr. C. R. Mnnro said Maoris generally. preferred na'Jve schools, as they had more teachers, free books were provided, and a considerable amount of welfare work was done among the children. He realised that the department would not agree to a separate school for the few European children, and under norma] circumstances he would favour a native school. If the department would allow the board to make it a special appointment and chose its own teacher, however, he would strongly support leaving it under the board. It was decided to ask the department to allow the board to make special appointments in all cases where the majority of pupils were natives. Returns forwarded by the New Zealand Educational Institute showed that the number of teachers employed under the rationing scheme or unable to accept employment, under the various boards at May .°.l wore: —Auckland, 359; Taranaki, 66; Wanganui, 69: Hawke's Bay. 81; Wellington. 164; Canterbury, 229; Otago, ISO; Southland, 73. The chairman, Mr. T. U. W ells, remarked that. Otago and Canterbury. although much smaller districts than Auckland,- had the same number of teachers employed as additional assistants.