MAORIS AND EDUCATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1073, 10 September 1930, Page 7

MAORIS AND EDUCATION

INSPECTOR NOTES PROGRESS TUB SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. • Looking back to the time when X entered native school work in 1901 and considering the present condition of the Maori peoplf, I am struck by great progress and development.” This comment is made by Mr. 'V . . Bird, chief inspector of primary schools, in It is report to the House of Representatives. Mr. Bird pointed out that the system of instruction in native schools had been criticised from time to time for not giving enough practical training The Maori himself knew what ho wanted, Mr. Bird remarked. Bird was satisfied that tho foundation o£ the progress of the Maori in dairy and sheep farming had been laid bv native schools. For the special needs of a Alaori settlement, no other school was so well suited. There could not be shown anywhere else such a keen desire for and interest in education as among the Maoris. Very valuable training was being given'in the Maori secondary schools. When St. Stephen’s Boys’ School was removed from Parnell t< Bombay, it 'would become a true agricultural school In the girls’ colleges—Queen Victoria School, Parnell: Hukarere School. Napier: and Turakina College attention was concentrated on domestic training. While this was necessary, the inspectors had reported, it would be worth while to train a number of the more intellectual girls for Training College entrance to become teachers in native schools.