MAORIS AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 268, 7 February 1941, Page 4

MAORIS AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

NOW that the new School Year has commenced it is perhaps opportune, to prevent if possible a recurrence of what has taken place in the past, to remind Maoris of the la,\v which makes it compulsory for their children to attend, school. Unconsciously, it would seem, Maori parents are liable to offend against the pakeha's laws, introduced and enforced to govern the upbringing of their children. Particularly this seems to apply to the regulations covering the compulsory, attendance at school, which require their children, along with them fairer cousins, to be educated up to sixth standard level, and furthermore encourages them to attend high schools and more advanced institutions which are calculated to fit them still more to fill a place in the communal system which the white man has introduced, and fondly refers to as his civilisation. Tbye: action of several Maoris at Te Teko who last year detained their children from school for a period running into months demonstrates the easy-going attitude of the average native, and also that fast disappearing trait of independence, which was the proud possession of his ancestors. Truly, as it transpired, some offenders had valid reasons for keeping their children away, but from the attitude of Maoris in the past there can be no doubt that if not forced to send their children to school 75 per cent, would cease to attend. There are probably as many reasons for this as there are surrounding every other vexed question of the day, but the mair. one must surely be the lack of sympathy and understanding which is shown by the average pakeha towards the members of the race which previously owned this country. No one will dispute that the Maori children are intelligent— and in many cases more so than the European children. There have been, and still are,being- produced;, great and distinguished Maori scholars, but to the rank and file of the race, education appears an irksome business which in many instances is definitely not considered necessary. Equal rights and advantages are offered children of both races under our system, yet owing to their poorer circumstances, the social status of their parents, and their general home surroundings compared with those of the pakeha, the pre-sent-day Maori has become imbued with a pronounced inferiority complex, which has caused him to adopt a nonchalant" and apathetic attitude which probably underlies his indifference as to whether his children attend school or not.