TEACHING OF MAORI

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 5

TEACHING OF MAORI

Mr. Bennetts Remarks in Hastings ROTORUA GOMMENT . Comment upon the teaching of the Maari language in schoolp and the apparent apathy of New Zealnnders towards Maori history, yoiced by Mr. Charlqs Bennett at a meeting of the Hastings Historiral Society last week, is discussed in a leading article in the Rotorua Mornjng Post. After poiuting out that Mr. Bennqtt's remarks onqe again draw attention tq oue of the obvious deficiencies of the New Zealand education system, the Post adds; "We cannot agree with him that the teaching of Latin and French is superfluousj it has, on the eontrary, many oultural advantages which should be retained, while it is also an essential in cqrtain examinations for which Maori would be unsuit* abie. Nevertheless there appears to be gqqd reason why more atteutjon should be given in New Zealand currjeula to the tongue and history of a race which is more essentially New Zealand than the European Now Zealanders, "It is not to the credit of this Dominion that while it js prepared to use its native race to the full for advertising and publicity purposes, it actually knowq so little about them. Outside districts where the European population comes into contact with the Maori (and even within these districts) there is an extraordinary ignoranqe not qnjy qf Maori nomeuclature, but of the most famiUar of Maori customs and the most effimentary facts of Maori history. It is probable that many of this country 's most easual visitors ara better informed in tbis respect than New Zealanders themseives. "Mr. Bennett makes a telling pojnt when he refers to the jgnorance of New Zealanders regarding the proper pronunciation of Maori names, used freely in naming ships, rail cars and cnany other things with which the" public comes daily into contact," Credit is given to the Education Department for its effiorts to teach New Zealand children something of their country 's history and flora but, the article concludes, many people are not only entirely ignorant of the. Maori language and history, but they ara alsq entirely ignorant of and indifferent to present day Maori problems, and there ig a lack of real understanding of the aotual difficulties with which tha native race is contending and the splendid effoft it is making to rehabilitatq itself on the lands of its forefathers.