THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Te Ao Hou, June 1959, Page 44

THE SECONDARY SCHOOL Just over half the pupils entering post-primary schools leave at, or before, the end of their second year, a quarter at the end of their third year, and a quarter at the end of their fourth year or fifth year. An increasing number every year at the end of their third year attempt to secure a School Certificate. Generally there are no special facilities available although there is much talk and interest taken in New Zealand of introducing Maori language into such schools which have a fair proportion or number of Maoris. As yet this has not come into regular practice. However there are a few schools which cater specially for Maori boys and girls. Queen Victoria Maori Girls' School is a private Church school. Under the guidance of Mr J. Waititi, nearly all aspects of Maori culture are taught. The girls are taught Maori language so that by the time they are eligible for sitting School Certificate and University Entrance they are competent enough to site Maori language as one of their subjects. Maori material culture is studied only with myths and legends. The culture is studied as a broad basis for specific studies. It is in this school, in conjunction with St Stephens Maori Boys' School, that we find a fine concert group specifically showing off Maori dances such as hakas and action songs. St Peter's Maori Boys' School in Northcote is another school which includes Maori lessons. This school is administered and conducted by the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the boys take part in their Maori opera which is presented every year in and around Auckland. These operas are based upon Maori stories. These operas have become very popular in Auckland and each year the public are always eager to attend the operas that give these boys scope for their flair in acting on stage. An interesting feature is the interest taken by a public school in catering for its Maori pupils. A young Auckland Maori with a distinguished academic career is Mr Ian Hugh Kawharu who completed a B.Litt. degree at Oxford last year on a thesis about Maori land tenure. He is now with the Department of Maori Affairs as a welfare officer; he hopes to do a doctorate later, but meanwhile is keen to get practical welfare experience in the field.

Students now going through teachers' college are being taught a good deal about Maori dances, arts and crafts. Club evenings like the one shown above occur every week, and the teachers' college action song group has helped on many occasions to do ceremonial service for the Auckland Maori community. Undoubtedly, the experience gained in this way will have a good deal of influence on the educational world in the years to come (see also page 38). Auckland Girls' Grammar School has a fair number of Maori girls. Miss Gardiner, the principal, has called in Mr J. Waititi to teach Maori culture, past and present. There are 47 Maori girls at this school. Many of them completed two years of schooling in Auckland and were attending for the third year. It is interesting to note that hardly any of the girls, either at Auckland Grammar or Queen Victoria, are Maoris who reside in Auckland. they have come to school from outlying districts. These three schools are the only schools in the Auckland Metropolitan Area to give regular Maori instruction. Other keen Maori students seek lessons privately. Most of these Maori pupils return to their home town after finishing school but many also take up professional work in Auckland such as teaching, university studies, radiography or nursing.