SECONDARY HEADS DISCUSS PROBLEMS

Te Ao Hou, September 1961, Page 21

SECONDARY HEADS DISCUSS PROBLEMS “In my recent visits to Maori schools, both primary and post-primary, I have been greatly impressed by the tremendous progress made in the last 10 years,” said Mr Ray Bradley, Officer for Maori Education, of the Department of Education, in Auckland last June. Mr Bradley was opening a special in-service training course for 24 principals and senior teachers in post-primary schools where there is a significant proportion of Maori pupils. Mr Bradley asked the teachers to discuss ways in which Maori students in secondary schools can be helped to make better progress. He pointed out that in Northland College and at Tauranga Maori students had won oratory contests in which there were many entrants. “There was no doubt about their ability to express themselves in English,” he added. Among the topics discussed by the teachers at the Course in Auckland were the teaching of English, science, social studies and library work in post-primary schools. Summing up the work of the course at the end of the week, Mr Bradley said there had been valuable discussion on the way post-primary schools could assist Maori pupils, particularly those coming from remote areas. He also paid a tribute to the serious thought and study the Post-Primary Teachers' Association had given to all aspects of Maori education.