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"The Māori Today" - the second part of a three-part documentary series looking at Māori and the changes occurring as a result of urbanisation.
This episode looks at Māori and the education system., and was produced by Robin King of the N.Z.B.C. in Wellington.
(Many participants in the programme are not identified.)
The programme opens with a waiata and s translation of Sir Apirana Ngata's whakatāuaki 'E tipu e rea.'
In the 1964 Commission on Education report, it was stated that the greatest waste in the education world currently, was the wasted talent of Māori boys and girls. They had two facets in life to follow, one being to master Western culture and the other to hold fast to their Māoritanga.
A man talks about the structure of whānau, hapu and iwi in te ao Māori.
An excerpt of a radio te reo Māori lesson.
An excerpt from a school journal about a Māori boy starting boarding school.
Brownie Puriri (Nau Paraone) of the Māori Affairs Department, talks about his experience of school - starting as a non-English speaking child. He says the experience of mixing with pākēha was new and gives examples of communication difficulties he had.
A woman teacher talks about working with Māori pupils who can't speak English.
Douglas Ball of the Māori Education Foundation talks about the history of Māori primary education in New Zealand: missionary schools, native schools and the policy of assimilation. After 1880 all Māori language was banned in schools, a policy which continued until the 1930s when Peter Fraser became Minister of Education and Māori culture was brought back into schools. Mr Ball observes that this wasn't enough however, and was largely superficial: music, haka and performance.
Dr James Ritchie speaks about his study of Māori children and child-rearing practices. Younger children are given to the care of older siblings, and all children are expected to perform some work to aid the family.
Brownie Puriri talks about obligations to whānau and fear of losing his "Māoriness" as he moves in the pākēha world and personal ambition for success.
A woman talks about Māori attitudes to success and ambition.
The impact of these attitudes on the Māori child as they enter education is discussed. A man talks about the role of Te Aute College, as more Māori children in the Hawkes Bay district are now going to pākēha mainstream schools.
Douglas Gillett, officer for Māori Education, speaks about the history of post-primary education for Māori students. Most now are at public schools, rather than church schools, as in the past. He speaks about the role of Māori district high schools.
A woman talks about Māori district high schools and compares them to mainstream high schools. Many of the Māori schools are now moving to board control. Mr Gillett comments on present policy to transfer Māori schools to board control.
A woman teacher speaks about her concern that the unique nature of Māori schools is under threat from board control. She says the people still want their Māori schools at the heart of their community.
Mr Gillett ends by commenting about the changes to Māori schools, saying it is important to move no faster than the Māori people themselves want.