MAORI EDUCATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18583, 18 December 1934, Page 13

MAORI EDUCATION

“SO LITTLE DONE.’’ j HEADMASTER’S VIEW j "We are hopeful that, as a result of . the report of the Native Affairs Com) : mission, the operations of the Maori ; .Purposes Fund Control Board will be sq , arranged that fuller facilities will bq offered to Maori boys lo prepare them-* selves as teaciiess and leaders of their people,” said Mr. R. C. Clark, principal of Weslcv College, Auckland, at the annual prize-giving ceremony. "It is surprising that, with our genuine desire for the welfare of the Maori people, we are prepared to do so little towards their secondary education,” saill Mr. Clark. “The number ot pakeha students attending secondary schools amounts to about j. 7 per cent, of the number attending the public • primary schools, but in the case of the, ; Maori the number attending secondary • schools is, wo believe, considerably be- ; low 5 per emit, of those attending tho ; primary schools, and, in fact, the num- j her of Maoris attending Maori secondary ; schools-—where most Maoris receive j their secondary education—is only 1£ : per cent. Of those receiving primary edu- j cation in both native and public schools. < We believe that it is a definite weak- ; ness in the education of the Maori that) < so few are receiving post-primary edu? j cation, j Any scheme of native development ; must ultimately rest oil Hie quality of \ the people working and developing the) ! scheme, and at the present time, tlm breakdown in many plans, aiming aij j assist ing-the Maori on the land lias beeri) j due to tho lack of training of Maoris, < This is not the fault of the Maori; ho has made remarkable use of the facili? J ties and opportunities offered, but there! < are qualities and viewpoints which dt| , not come easily, and which only eiluea- S tiou, time and experience can give, lb ? is, we believe., the duty of tho State Irt ) offer greater facilities to the Maori than, j he is at present receiving. “It is frequently urged against Maori j education, particularly secondary edu- 4 cation, that it is wasted, and tho red- < pients only ‘drop back to the mat.' No < one watching .Maori lads after they have: ) left school can believe ibis."