Organisation

Te Ao Hou, March 1967, Page 41

Organisation Probably more than any other quality, the ability of Maori men and women to organise their own groups in their own communities is one of their all too little recognised strengths. Some organisation is essential. Children are very young when they start to listen, talk and ask questions. It is noticeable that when parents take time to listen back, talk with, and encourage questions, their children not only talk more and better in whatever language they are using, but also they make more constructive use of the equipment, tools and materials organised for them. Instead of tending to walk over equipment and leave a litter, a new awareness of how to lead from one constructive idea to the next begins to emerge. We can fairly ask, are these qualities of concentration, construction and development of ideas the kinds of qualities we want to see growing in Maori children? It is interesting that if the world he lives in is not brought to a child's attention, he pays little attention to it. Sand is just sand, water is just water, trees are just trees; but in the presence of adults who give a child the time that he needs—perhaps something like six or so hours a week of this organised play—the child uses these natural materials to further his own learning.