MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1939, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

1 EARLY MAORI EDUCATION. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The Te Awamutu School increased rapidly. Two hours a day for the three R’s, two for play, and four in the fascinating practice of useful work. The only condition for admission was implicit obedience. Clothes, food and lodging were good. There was scrupulous cleanliness and regular inspection. The aim was not for academic attainment, but that every boy should be taught to earn a living—just what our schools are beginning to realise threequarters of a century later. The trades taught were—carpenter, blacksmith, wheelwright, shoemaker, tailor and printer, with regular changes to agriculture. sheep and cattle on the school estate. The main secret of success in this purely experimental flight of education was that the European teachers were chosen first for their knowledge of Maori language and Maori character, and next for farming and handicraft. The number of eager pupils increased, and the cost of education per pupil was lowered in the same ratio. Implicit obedience was the result of kindly reciprocal interest between teachers and pupils. Advisedly also there was also a studied absence of academic and theoretical subjects. Plain, useful, practical knowledge was sought and given with gratifying results. Maori tribes away from the advantages of the school opposed it and caused much trouble by preventing the pit sawing of timber for enlarging the school buildings. The Governor having agreed to protect all Maori plantations of food, they rapidly planted rings of potatoes, wheat and pumpkins round all plots of milling timber within access to the school by bullock teams. A Maori lady of influence ended the trouble by asking that all sawn timber in the vicinity be given to her. This being agreed to, she promptly presented it to the School.