Maori Studies at Training College

Te Ao Hou, November 1964, Page 2

Maori Studies at Training College The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’ I read with great interest the editorial in ‘Te Ao Hou’ no. 47, in which you posed a very interesting question. I quote: ‘It is sometimes said, with justifiable resentment, that “here comes the tourist—bring on the Maori” is too common an attitude; and the question is asked as to why the Pakeha cannot do more to entertain the tourist—has the , then, no culture of his own?’ A good question, as you say, and further on in this same issue we find an article on Mr Rowley Habib, also his review of the operetta performed by the Turakina Maori Girls' College, and in both these articles Mr Habib expresses opinions that could be answers to this question. When children at secondary school who intend to become primary school teachers take French as part of their professional course, what use do they make of this language while they are at Training College, and later as primary school teachers? Because I have often wondered about this, I would like to ask why Maori language and culture cannot be taught at Training College, not as a part-time subject or through clubs, but as a full-time subject with a full-time lecturer—not only to interested Maori students, but to all students! If it is not practicable to teach all students Maori language and culture at the Training College level, could it not be introduced in its preliminary stage to sixth form pupils intending to be teachers, with later specialized studies at Training College: so that instead of saying with justifiable resentment, ‘Here comes the tourist—bring on the Maori’, we can say with justifiable pride, ‘Here comes the tourist—bring on the New Zealander’. AS I SEE IT (Gisborne)