THE TEACHING OF MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 4

THE TEACHING OF MAORI.

The Victoria, College' professors' 'who writo to us to-day in protest: against our views upon' the: proposal that the' .University' College's should afford facilities for Maori studies must oxcuse us for saying that they do not appear to be very clear in their ideas; upon what can bo done in the: matter.'' 'The proposal to which we ■ objected 'was..that the Maori tongue should be studied, and necessarily,: therefore,: included 'amongst the subjects for the "pass" degree, Tho grounds of our objection.were, that it is absurd to afford, instruction to University students in a language which has no literature, in the proper, sense of the word, "and that the B.A. standard is: already so low that it should not be further lowered by adding to the Hat of optional subjects one that would be extremoly easy, and, from any academic viewpoint, entirely useless. Our correspondents say that we hayo misunderstood the naturo of the proposals recently placed, before, the Senate,' which contemplated "the study of the Maori; race from the anthropological, historical, and-linguistic points of view." If that really is what is contemplated, we- can: only express'our surprise that the profesaorß can .imagine that, nil- theao dis-' tinct lines of study, can be fused into a

joint of tho:"pass" degree. Anthropology is one thing; history is another; and literature is distinct from both. One can understand the nomination of anthropology as a subject of study, or even, of Maori history, or the; Maori language, but the sum' total of human knowledge cannot, expect any notable accretion from .the training of students to answer 1 correctly a jumble of elementary questions on'all three.

The question is not whether we should or should not encourage anthropological research, but whether 'we . should or should not draw upon the teaching time of the .colleges to give" lectures oh' the Maori language. That the Native race.is a profitable field of study-for the anthropologist does not admit of question. But the machinery of the Arts degree is not suited,, was not intended, and should not bo available, for the opening of this kind of research. Something might be said for the inclusion of "Maori" amongst the Science subjects, but difficulties begin at once when,we- come to consider, who shall do the teaching, and where:the materials for study are to be.found. The history that we want-T-nbt .-ffib record of .events during a mere hundred years—is wrapped in darkness. ;:■ It might be said that,: from the point of view of the. student,.: the .Maori has no history.' At the .very best, .historical study of'. the ■ Maori would be only .glorified guesswork.. To the anthropologist tho same difficulties . would appear..': Let us make the concession, .of supposing that one ; of the colleges does the best that can be done, -that /a.'.way is found to make the best use of the available ; material. . What would be. the:result? .-That one student per. generation, perhaps,,'would bo.inspired, if his circumstances permitted,, to ; follow an inclination .to investigate the "whole question: of Polynesian anthropology.. Is that result worth the lowering of the University's ' standard that would attend the granting of facilities to thousands ;of students to omit a modern language or a natural or physical science .in .favour, -if a subject which, however ':■■. interesting', } would do themhp good? But to allow the possibility that means for a.fruitful study of the Native/race 'can be : devised by,our colleges is, we think, to concede more than facts tell; us is : reasonable 'The'college authorities will;do better to concentrate their attention ion conserving so much' -f /the old .University: ideals;as- remain, and: •oh .raising''-.the. standard : of: University honours all roundj than to embrace' the sentimental':innovations .that please'. an. uprtp-date democracy.. There/ is already /observablei.-a radical drift in.our University< government, and." onco,: a:\ serious'' breach is'made in the walls of principle and .convention ■ guarding/the University,;, there \will follow a rapid decay of .the old University spirit, and the disappear'ahce of the essential. virtue of/ the'academic estate.. ; ■'. /: :'-:'v l;;: ;