MAORI SCHOOL CHILDREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22206, 5 September 1935, Page 12

MAORI SCHOOL CHILDREN

STANDARD OF MORALITY S| MR. T„ U. WELLS' STATEMENT;,' "I had no intention of belittling or insulting the Maori race, for I liavr the greatest esteem for Maori citizens," 6aid Mr. T. U. Wellu, chairman of th®, Auckland Education Board, at a meeting of the board yesterda.v, referring to. criticiism by Mr. George Graham, seer®, tary of the Akarana Maori of remarks made by Mr. Wells recently' concerning the moral tone of Maori schoolchildren. "Mr. Graham is quite wrong when ho says that 1 know nothing of • Maori life," added Mr. Wells. "I began my teaching career in a native school—St. Stephon'et, Parnell —and I also taught Maorin at Ngaruawahia. At present I am chairman of the joint board whij-'n controls St. Stephen's and Queen Yio. toria uchools for Maori boys and Maori girls respectively. The moral tone in Maori colleges is excellent where there is strong discipline. "However, 1 have no hesitation in saying that the Maori moral tone.' among; juniors, many- of whom,, have >; learned bad habits from lower-class Europeans, is not up to our standards,! In some of our schools the moral tone:' of Msioris from villages where living - conditions are poor is not good." Letters were received from two Euro-.. pefiim families with children attending the Rangiiriri School reporting thai some of fciheir children were suffering, from eye trouble believed to have been contracted! at the school, which Mnorii: ' attend. It was stated', that the chililwnir had to receive medical attention and one of them was taken to hospital. aK "The trouble is that in seme of t3w Maori villages the hygienic are not good," said Mr. Wells. - The matter of pupils' health at thfif. Rangin'ri School was referred to the health officer.