ON BRINGING UP CHILDREN RESPECTABLY.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 16, 15 November 1861, Page 8

ON BRINGING UP CHILDREN RESPECTABLY.

Chapter 3. KNOWLEDGE. 1. Let him know his years. But this is for the parents,—when a child is born let the day of his birth be written in a book. It is not right to allow a man to be like a dog. The dog does not know his own age: he is born, lives and cUes,

but is ignorant as to his years, how many they are. It is even so with some of the Maories; they do not know their years, nor the month nor the day in which they were born, because their parents had not written it down. It is said in the 90th Psalm, "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" but how can you number the days when you don't know when the days commenced? "The days of our years are three score years and ten," but if a man is ignorant of the day on which he was born, how will he be able to count his days? If he does not know the first, he will not know the second, nor the third, nor any; and thus he is entirely ignorant as to liis days and years. Look at the Pakeha; every European knows the day on which he was born, and on which his children were born; and when the child reaches the twenty first of his years, then for the first time, he is called a man, or an adult; and then only does he enter on his property. The day, the month, and the year on which he was born, is written down by his parents, and so he always knows, and can always count. Some parents know not how to do this, but at the present time, you know how to write. Even so, let it be written down, lest your children be ignorant of their birth day, and thus be like beasts without understanding. 2. Let the children learn reading and arithmetic.—l observe that the fathers know how to read and write, but the children are in a state of ignorance. This is a great mistake. The l'akeha's system is that the knowledge of the child shall be greater than that of the father, and that each successive generation shall increase in wisdom. And thus the respectability of the Pakeha is continually increasing. The knowledge of the son is beyond that of the father, and his respectability will increase in proportion to his knowledge. Hence I say that the Maori does very wrong who leaves his children in a state of ignorance. Is it for the parents to be knowing, and the children to be ignorant? No, no. In such a case, the respectability of the children will decrease, until at last it be entirely gone. Rather let them be taught and put to school. The European is always instructing his children: he arranges

with another Pakeha as instructor and school manager, remembering to give him proper remuneration for his work at the school, and always sending his children to school from year to year ; three years, four, five, and sometimes many more. .And pray why do not the Maories the same? Some will say, "We have no money as payment for the schooling, and as salary lor the teacher." Stop ! cease to talk in that manner. \'ou have plenty of money for guns and powder, for tobacco, and for fine clothes, and for all ■kinds of waste. The land is also extensive, but unworked, whereby property and money might increase to you, and serve as payment for the schooling, and knowledge and respectability of your children. But let the parents do some part of it. The fathers know how to read books and write; why do they not teach their children that they may grow together in knowledge and wisdom and respectability. And arithmetic also. The desire of some for figures and their knowledge of that work is great: hence 1 say that arithmetic is not a hidden thing; some understand a certain portion of that science, then why do not all the cmldren understand and get into the practice of figures ? 3. But the chief of these things is to be found in the English language.—This is the main source, that is, the spring from which will arise knowledge for our children. I therefore advise that our offspring be acquainted with the English language. There are the books, there are the illustrations of arithmetic, and there the treasury of knowledge for raising the position of our children. Say not that the Maori tongue will always obtain in this land. By no means; the ■Native language will be lost by constant decrease, and the language of the Pakeha will be the language of this country and of our children, so that they may become lakehas and rangatiras. Observe ! the tongue has reached every part of the world, and is understood and spoken by many people, who have adopted it as !f| I; *. OWn language; and this language will fce received by our children, in future years, and will be a source of intelligence arm wealth, and respectability for them. But if they are not possessed of it, what titan . Enough: if our children do nor know the English language, that language

'villi increase, and they will decrease. : The Pakeha's tongue will advance and • grow, and reach very high, but as for our children, they will be low and insignificant. And hence I exclaim, the English language! the English language! That is it which will provide a position for our children: and it will be good. By the Pakeha's language have been brought the greatest treasures to this land. By the Pakeha's language have come the ship, the book, the worship; by that fo reign tongue (have come) the greatest of all treasures whereby man can be benefited, boih in this world and the other. Good will it be for this treasure, that is, the English language, to be completely adopted by our children. The Europeans are desirous that you should accept their language, that is, that the Maori and the Pakeha should equally understand the English language, that they might receive equal knowledge and be equal in station. For that reason the Governor has established schools, and granted money for the purchase of clothing and bocks for the Maori children, arid the English gentlemen have consented to this system for the raising of the Native youth. Just you consider for whom is this benefit designed, in the establishment of schools and institutions by the Governor. It is not for the advantage of the Pakeha: he is otherwise provided with schools and institutions and colleges, and his children constantly attend at their English schools. But the schools for the Natives are for the advantage of your children; a manifestation of love from the Governor, from his Chiefs, and from all the Pakehas towards yourselves. Even so, and you must allow your children to go to school, with kind and thoughtful intentions concerning them. It is not the right thing for the Governor and the Pakehas only to have to buy the clothes, food and books, but you must provide some part yourselves. And the children must be allowed to remain at school. Think not that they will hastily learn in one or two years, but let them be many years, that their knowledge may go on increasing. A tree does not reach its maturity in one year. And do not allow of their constantly returning oil visits to the Native village: that will

not cause their knowledge to grow; but let them remain steadily at school, and the parents go backwards and forwards to see them. And let them carry some food and clothing for them. Let not the school clothes be taken to the kainga Maori. Those clothes were bought with the Pakeha's money for the school, and for the school only. And do not be afraid of work, for work is good. It is not that they may work for the advantage of the Pakeha, but it is that they may raise food for themselves, and build houses for themselves, and reap benefits for themselves: that is, for the children of the school. Remember the word of Paul: "If a man is not willing to work, neither let him eat." But the parents must take an interest in it, and I say to them, cease to bring up your children in ignorance,—cease to hold them fast in foolishness and error, —cease to be unfeeling to them, but take them to school and shew them kindness, and carry them food and clothing. Happy is the man who possesses understanding; this is a greater treasure than silver, or gold, or anything else which men can desire. Even so, therefore, let our children obtain knowledge.