‘A Special Need’

Te Ao Hou, December 1962, Page 48

‘A Special Need’ Probably some people will say that Maoris should be content with the same education that is available to everyone else. This is a shallow argument that supposes all children to be the same. What the schools try to do is to provide the very best education for all children, whether they are bright, dull or only average, whether they are blind, in hospital or perfectly healthy, whether they are Islanders, Pakehas or Maoris. The Commission says this, ‘that Maori education must become an area of special need, requiring special measures and, inevitably, increased expenditure. It (the Commission) believes that the Maori has as good a right to claim this from our community as have any other groups where children are handicapped through no fault of their own….’ The recognition of this special need is a good starting point. Not everyone will agree with the Commission's next step, the replacement of Maori schools under the Education Department with Maori Service schools under the Boards. In the writer's view, however, the gains should be far greater than the losses and should result in a far better educational deal for Maori children than they get at present.