Pre-Colonisation Period

MAORI EDUCATION

by Raymond Leopold Bradly, M.A., DIP.ED., Regional Superintendent of Education (Auckland), Department of Education.

Pre-Colonisation Period

Before the coming of Europeans to New Zealand, the education of Maori children was shared by home and community. From their grandparents and parents they learnt the language and standards of behaviour. In the community they developed skill in fishing, hunting, gardening, house-building, cooking, mat-making, and basketry. The more difficult arts of wood-carving and tattooing were taught by experts while instruction in tribal law was given to the sons of chiefs and priests in a building known as the “whare-wananga”.

The Missionary Period

The arrival of the European brought far-reaching changes in Maori social life. To meet the demands of the new culture, radical changes in the system of education became necessary. First to accept the challenge were the missionaries who set up schools with the object of converting the natives as quickly as possible to Christianity. The first school commenced under Thomas Kendall at Rangihoua in 1816. The Wesleyans followed in 1822, and the Roman Catholics in 1838. Mission schools rapidly increased in number and their influence spread to the most remote areas. While the instruction was mainly of a religious nature, the Maori language was taught through translations of the Bible and Catechism. There was practical needlework for the girls, also carpentry and field work for the boys.

Government Control

By instructions from the British Government, Governor Hobson appointed a “Protector of Aborigines” to provide for Maori education but little was done until the Education Ordinance of 1847 which set aside one-twentieth of the Colony's revenue for education. Governor Grey, rather than build new schools, preferred to support the three missions already operating, conditional on instruction being given in English, and subject to Government inspection. The 1852 Constitution Act made European education the responsibility of the Provincial Councils but Maori education remained under the Government. The Maori Wars brought an end to Grey's plan, and the Native Schools Act of 1867 provided for the establishment of village schools to be administered by the Native Affairs Department. In 1879 they were handed over to the newly created Department of Education. Once the provisions of the Act became effective, Maori education made rapid strides and regulations published in 1903 compelled Maori children to attend an ordinary school if a native school was not handy. Gradually the syllabus of Maori schools came to resemble that of the public schools until in 1928 the same syllabus was adopted.

In 1955 a National Committee on Education met to examine Maori education. Three of its chief recommendations were:

  1. New Zealand should work towards a uniform system of education for Maori and Pakeha.

  2. An officer for Maori education should be appointed to bring closer coordination among the various organisations concerned with Maori education.

  3. Greater emphasis on Maori culture would be given in all schools.

Many of the Committee's recommendations have already been implemented, and the policy of gradual transfer of Maori schools has been adopted by the Government and the Department.

Pre-school Education

Kindergartens and play-centres are open to Maori and European children alike and can be established under the same conditions. Since the Maori Education Foundation was established in 1961, it has encouraged Maori parents to use existing facilities and to form new groups in rural areas.

Primary Education

In 1964 there were 9,477 Maori pupils attending 135 Maori primary schools. Another 42,376 Maoris attended some 1,300 Board schools and approximately 3,029 attended private schools. The rapid growth of Maori population is shown in the following table.

Number of Maoris Attending Primary Schools (Excluding Private)
1930 1940 1950 1964
Maori schools 6,220 9,471 10,841 9,477
Public (Board) schools 8,172 12,477 18,699 42,376
Totals 14,392 21,948 29,540 51,853

Between 1950 and 1962 the number of Maoris in Maori schools increased by 112 only, while those in public schools increased by 17,687.

Staffing

Teachers in the Maori service are employed under the same salary and appointment regulations as teachers in Board schools. Because the head teacher and his wife are often required to enter into the social and welfare activities of Maori communities, preference in appointments is given to married teaching couples. Junior assistants – mainly young Maori women with secondary education – are also appointed to Maori schools.

The Primary School Curriculum

The chief difference between the curriculum of Maori and public schools is one of emphasis on some aspects of health, music, and arts and crafts. Board schools, with predominantly Maori rolls, are now also stressing Maori cultural activities, and the Department has issued to all schools a manual on the traditional arts of the Maori.

Post-primary Education

As the number of Maori village schools established by the Government increased, many of the private denominational schools withdrew from primary and concentrated on post-primary education. As the Government was not anxious to build secondary schools of its own, a system of scholarships was established to enable pupils in remote areas to board at denominational schools.

The establishment of district high schools in country areas and the migration to urban areas have resulted in steadily mounting numbers of Maoris attending State post-primary schools.

Concern has been expressed at the relatively small proportion of Maoris who have taken academic courses and continued their education in the fifth and sixth forms, but there are definite indications that the situation is improving.

The following table illustrates the rate of increase in the number of Maoris proceeding to post-primary schools.

Maori Pupils Attending Post-primary Schools
1898 1954 1958 1964
Private denominational schools 234 871 888 1,574
Public schools .. 4,165 5,597 10,012
Totals 234 5,036 6,845 11,586

The Post-primary Curriculum

Since the great majority of Maoris attend public schools, they have the same curriculum as Pakeha students – the “core” subjects and a choice of subjects for School Certificate. In the private schools and Maori district high schools, greater emphasis is placed on arts and crafts, and an increasing number include the Maori language in their timetables.

University and Teacher College Education

The proportionately lower number of Maoris proceeding to the upper forms of post-primary schools is reflected in the numbers enrolled at the University. Nevertheless, increasing numbers are graduating and entering a variety of professions. There are usually about 100 Maori students being trained at teachers' colleges.

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MAORI EDUCATION 22-Apr-09 Raymond Leopold Bradly, M.A., DIP.ED., Regional Superintendent of Education (Auckland), Department of Education.