Draft curriculum needs challenging
The time for consultation on the new draft curriculum has expired, but an Auckland University education lecturer says that shouldn't stop Maori telling the Education Ministry they're not happy with it.
Vicki Carpenter says the consultation process was far too narrow, and didn't allow people to challenge flaws such as the removal of the Treaty of Waitangi as a required area of study.
Dr Carpenter says the curriculum will mean many Maori and Pakeha students will grow up with little understanding of the links between historical events in this country and contemporary issues.
She says it will set back education for Maori children in the mainstream system.
“I think there's enough research around that shows that if children feel valued and their culture feels valued, they’re more likely to achieve, However, the document as it is written, if people want to ignore that aspect of children’s lives, then I think they can,” Dr Carpenter says.
She says the curriculum is a missed opportunity for Maori and Pakeha alike.
SHARPLES OPPOSES TREATY VALUATION
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the Treasury should stop trying to put a monetary value on the Treaty of Waitangi.
Dr Sharples says since the early 1990s the government bean counters have insisted on putting a price on the document held in the National Archives.
The current estimate is $32 million, based on other collections of a similar nature.
Dr Sharples says the whole process is outrageous.
“It's rather like telling people our history and what we stand for. The treaty should be the matua document of our laws and can’t be taken cheaply like something to be bought and sold. Neither can it be compared with the Gettysburg address or the Magna Carta. It belongs to this country. It contains the essence of our partnership in Aotearoa here,” Dr Sharples says.
Wellington filmmaker Alistair Barry is making a documentary on the valuation process.
WAIPAREIRA APPOINTS MEN’S HEALTH WORKER
West Auckland's Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust has created a new position to target the health of Maori men.
General manager Paul Stanley says the new hauora tane position is a first for any Maori service provider.
Mr Stanley says men's health hasn't been given the attention it deserves.
“The negative aspects that come out of Maori health is actually being driven by the negative health of Maori men. And certainly in terms of the way a lot of men see themselves and the way they’re perceived by society, is that they’ve violent, they’re fat, they’re unhealthy, they’re ugly, all this other types of stuff,” Mr Stanley says.
Waipareira is hosting a free concert in Henderson on Sunday which will have a focus on men's health, including free health checks.
UNESCO SIGNS UP FOR TE AMATATINI EXPOSURE
New February's Te Matatini national Maori performing arts festival will get global attention, thanks to a team up with United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation.
Te Matatini chairperson Tama Huata says UNESCO will promote the festival through its global networks as a premier cultural event.
Mr Huata says Te Matatini is a great place for people to come to see the best in the Maori performing arts in one place.
“We're representative of 14 rohe around the country. That’s 100 groups, and then in terms of our national profile, it’s an organisation that has been around since 1972, so it certainly gives that for Unesco,” Mr Huata says.
He says the Te Matatini and UNESCO partnership will not change the years of tradition within the festival.
NZ FIRST ANZTPA SWITCHAROUND SLAMMED
The Greens are accusing New Zealand First of hypocrisy for going back on its earlier opposition to the creation of the Australia and New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority or ANZTPA.
New Zealand First voted in favour of a bill setting up the authority when it was introduced in Parliament yesterday.
Green MP Metiria Turei says party leader Winston Peters is on record opposing giving Australians control of what remedies are available here, but now he's Minister of Foreign Affairs he has changed his tune.
Ms Turei says it's a disappointment for ANZTPA opponents.
“There's been a huge long campaign opposing the trans Tasman agency. We don’t want an Australian body making decisions about what can and can’t be sold in New Zealand. But New Zealand First had said in the past it wouldn’t support the bill, and it has decided to support the bill,” Ms Turei says.
She says the bill is a threat to Maori who attend rongoa clinics, where traditional Maori remedies such as kawakawa, korimako and ti kouka products are dispensed.
HENARE SAYS MORE NEEDS DOING FOR LITERACY
The National Party spokesperson for Maori education is demanding Government action to raise the literacy levels of Maori children.
Tau Henare says the latest Student Outcome Overview covering the years from 2001 to 2005 shows only 69 percent of Maori students met level 1achievement levels, compared with 84 percent of Pakeha students.
Mr Henare says more emphasis needs to be put on the first years in school.
“Once you've reached seven or eight, no one should be illiterate. One of the greatest skills a person can have is the ability to read and the ability to write. Let’s go all out and put in place some mechanisms and some programmes that actually say that by the time a kid turns 7, 8 ior 9, they can read and write,” Mr Henare says.
He says the situation needs urgent attention so young Maori school leavers don't end up on the dole.
Vicki Carpenter says the consultation process was far too narrow, and didn't allow people to challenge flaws such as the removal of the Treaty of Waitangi as a required area of study.
Dr Carpenter says the curriculum will mean many Maori and Pakeha students will grow up with little understanding of the links between historical events in this country and contemporary issues.
She says it will set back education for Maori children in the mainstream system.
“I think there's enough research around that shows that if children feel valued and their culture feels valued, they’re more likely to achieve, However, the document as it is written, if people want to ignore that aspect of children’s lives, then I think they can,” Dr Carpenter says.
She says the curriculum is a missed opportunity for Maori and Pakeha alike.
SHARPLES OPPOSES TREATY VALUATION
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the Treasury should stop trying to put a monetary value on the Treaty of Waitangi.
Dr Sharples says since the early 1990s the government bean counters have insisted on putting a price on the document held in the National Archives.
The current estimate is $32 million, based on other collections of a similar nature.
Dr Sharples says the whole process is outrageous.
“It's rather like telling people our history and what we stand for. The treaty should be the matua document of our laws and can’t be taken cheaply like something to be bought and sold. Neither can it be compared with the Gettysburg address or the Magna Carta. It belongs to this country. It contains the essence of our partnership in Aotearoa here,” Dr Sharples says.
Wellington filmmaker Alistair Barry is making a documentary on the valuation process.
WAIPAREIRA APPOINTS MEN’S HEALTH WORKER
West Auckland's Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust has created a new position to target the health of Maori men.
General manager Paul Stanley says the new hauora tane position is a first for any Maori service provider.
Mr Stanley says men's health hasn't been given the attention it deserves.
“The negative aspects that come out of Maori health is actually being driven by the negative health of Maori men. And certainly in terms of the way a lot of men see themselves and the way they’re perceived by society, is that they’ve violent, they’re fat, they’re unhealthy, they’re ugly, all this other types of stuff,” Mr Stanley says.
Waipareira is hosting a free concert in Henderson on Sunday which will have a focus on men's health, including free health checks.
UNESCO SIGNS UP FOR TE AMATATINI EXPOSURE
New February's Te Matatini national Maori performing arts festival will get global attention, thanks to a team up with United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation.
Te Matatini chairperson Tama Huata says UNESCO will promote the festival through its global networks as a premier cultural event.
Mr Huata says Te Matatini is a great place for people to come to see the best in the Maori performing arts in one place.
“We're representative of 14 rohe around the country. That’s 100 groups, and then in terms of our national profile, it’s an organisation that has been around since 1972, so it certainly gives that for Unesco,” Mr Huata says.
He says the Te Matatini and UNESCO partnership will not change the years of tradition within the festival.
NZ FIRST ANZTPA SWITCHAROUND SLAMMED
The Greens are accusing New Zealand First of hypocrisy for going back on its earlier opposition to the creation of the Australia and New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority or ANZTPA.
New Zealand First voted in favour of a bill setting up the authority when it was introduced in Parliament yesterday.
Green MP Metiria Turei says party leader Winston Peters is on record opposing giving Australians control of what remedies are available here, but now he's Minister of Foreign Affairs he has changed his tune.
Ms Turei says it's a disappointment for ANZTPA opponents.
“There's been a huge long campaign opposing the trans Tasman agency. We don’t want an Australian body making decisions about what can and can’t be sold in New Zealand. But New Zealand First had said in the past it wouldn’t support the bill, and it has decided to support the bill,” Ms Turei says.
She says the bill is a threat to Maori who attend rongoa clinics, where traditional Maori remedies such as kawakawa, korimako and ti kouka products are dispensed.
HENARE SAYS MORE NEEDS DOING FOR LITERACY
The National Party spokesperson for Maori education is demanding Government action to raise the literacy levels of Maori children.
Tau Henare says the latest Student Outcome Overview covering the years from 2001 to 2005 shows only 69 percent of Maori students met level 1achievement levels, compared with 84 percent of Pakeha students.
Mr Henare says more emphasis needs to be put on the first years in school.
“Once you've reached seven or eight, no one should be illiterate. One of the greatest skills a person can have is the ability to read and the ability to write. Let’s go all out and put in place some mechanisms and some programmes that actually say that by the time a kid turns 7, 8 ior 9, they can read and write,” Mr Henare says.
He says the situation needs urgent attention so young Maori school leavers don't end up on the dole.
posted by Adam | 10:27 pm
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