Compulsory Maori for teachers

[SpankMe]

What a waste of money. What use is that going to be? Much better to make Mandarin a compulsory cause for students. Thats a language that will actually be of use in their future. Wish I could have learned it at school.

But compulsory maori? About as useful as learning Egyptian hieroglyphics.

[boman]

It was a compulsory, half year curriculum, for all third formers, when I was a School. Funny, I dont remember fark all of the Schooling. And what I do remember, I speak better than the three maoris that I work with.

I do agree, that forcing kids to learn a language, it should be a language that will help them in the real world. Manderin would be a good start.

[oneofsix]

What a wasste of money. What use is that going to be? Much better to make Mandarin a Compulsory cause for students. Thats a language that will actually be of use in their future. Wish I could have learned it at school.

But Compulsory maori? About as useful as learning egyptian hieroglyphics.

What's your source that set you off on this rant?

[HenryDorsetCase]

I know a guy who retrained as a teacher in his 30's. He was born in the UK, and came to NZ aged about 12. He still had a vestigal regional UK accent.

He had to sit the compulsory Mori part of his teacher training 3 times because they didnt like his pronunciation.

He is of course going to be a science teacher.

[slofox]

It was part of my teacher training 37 years ago. Can't say it caused me any grief - actually helped a bit in rural Northland communities.

[marty]

What's your source that set you off on this rant?\ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731336

[oneofsix]

\ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10731336

Thanks marty.
Don't see why they have to learn the language at tertiary level to help the Maori kids. They would be better off doing some physic course to help them understand where the kids heads are at. If would also help them with all the other cultures and issues the kids bring to school as part of their baggage.

[imdying]

I don't like the implication that all teachers will end up working in prisons :angry:

[Banditbandit]

It was a compulsory, half year curriculum, for all third formers, when I was a School. Funny, I dont remember fark all of the Schooling. And what I do remember, I speak better than the three maoris that I work with.

I do agree, that forcing kids to learn a language, it should be a language that will help them in the real world. Manderin would be a good start.

I'm sorry but Te Reo Māori is used every day in this country. I'm certainly surrounded by people who use it from preference as it is their first language ... you can hear it used on the street and shops of Whakatane every day ...

There are some places in this country where people who speak only English are at a disadvantage, and that will grow as the Māori population increases and the European-descent population decreases ...

How are some of you who are European-descent going to cope in 40 years time when you are in the minority in this country and only speak one of it's everyday languages?

(Those of you who will be dead don't need to point that out)

[imdying]

You're living in a dream world if you think maori will be the dominant language in 40 years... they're too easy to keep down, like most animals.

[Scuba_Steve]

I'm sorry but Te Reo Māori is used every day in this country. I'm certainly surrounded by people who use it from preference as it is their first language ... you can hear it used on the street and shops of Whakatane every day ...

There are some places in this country where people who speak only English are at a disadvantage, and that will grow as the Māori population increases and the European-descent population decreases ...

How are some of you who are European-descent going to cope in 40 years time when you are in the minority in this country and only speak one of it's everyday languages?

(Those of you who will be dead don't need to point that out)

Sorry I don't see Maori becoming dominant in this country, Ever!. Mandarin will become dominant well before Maori, hell there's currently more NZ'ers that speak mandarin than Maori now & even more people living here that do.
If they're going to inforce any language IMO it should be sign, that at-least allows us to communicate with people we would otherwise be unable to

[Bald Eagle]

How are some of you who are European-descent going to cope in 40 years time when you are in the minority in this country and only speak one of it's everyday languages?


We are already approaching minority status, and I think there are more Asian language speakers than Maori. A trend I think will continue.

[ynot slow]

I'm all for those that want to learn Te Reo be able to do so,and if wanting to teach the language you need to be averse to using it,but if being a science tutor don't think so.

[MSTRS]

I'm sorry but Te Reo Māori is used every day in this country. I'm certainly surrounded by people who use it from preference as it is their first language ... you can hear it used on the street and shops of Whakatane every day ...

There are some places in this country where people who speak only English are at a disadvantage, and that will grow as the Māori population increases and the European-descent population decreases ...

How are some of you who are European-descent going to cope in 40 years time when you are in the minority in this country and only speak one of it's everyday languages?

(Those of you who will be dead don't need to point that out)

I'm sure I'd find it easier to speak Maori IF I lived and worked in Ruatoria (for instance). But I don't.
How is your first (and only?) language Maori speaker going to get on in Remuera? Or Taradale, for that matter?
I'm sure you are right about those who have one language only, being disadvantaged. Chose any language you like, and that statement still fits.

This country would be better to insist on an English exam being passed by any foreign immigrant before being allowed to settle here.

[gijoe1313]

Too meke! Speaking da english is all choice as bro! Speaking the te reo lingo is all part of being a treacher at skool dese days bay!

Otherwise you gets all whakama about it! But, I reckons that nuffink a good feeds and a hui can't solve! Chur chur! :msn-wink: Ke kite ano!

[Banditbandit]

Too meke! Speaking da english is all choice as bro! Speaking the te reo lingo is all part of being a treacher at skool dese days bay!

Otherwise you gets all whakama about it! But, I reckons that nuffink a good feeds and a hui can't solve! Chur chur! :msn-wink: Ke kite ano!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

How to be illiterate in two languages ...

[Blackshear]

It's cool to Kōrero!

I personally don't like the compulsory part, we're far more likely to end up speaking Chinese anyway.
I can count to 100 in Maori, know half of the colour song and that's it. Never had to use Maori in my life, aside from district names.

[Katman]

How is your first (and only?) language Maori speaker going to get on in Remuera?

Stealthily.









(Said in jest Banditbandit).

[matdaymon]

As a compulsory part of learning to teach I'd say they have been doing a shithouse job for YEARS. Otherwise I would have actually cared when it was forced on me in primary and intermediate (managed to skip it in high school for getting into an extension class which clashed with my forms moari lessons) as the teachers would have known WTF they were doing and would have been able to pass on some enthusiasm for the subject. All I remember of it is singing songs that I didnt know the meaning too and they couldnt teach me the meaning to to save themselves... :facepalm:

These days I think it would be cool to learn it just so I could nail my pronunciation of places around the country.
Learning Mandarin or Sign would be hella more useful though

[HenryDorsetCase]

There are some places in this country where people who speak only English are at a disadvantage, and that will grow as the Māori population increases and the European-descent population decreases ...

How are some of you who are European-descent going to cope in 40 years time when you are in the minority in this country and only speak one of it's everyday languages?

(Those of you who will be dead don't need to point that out)

So the master plan is "out-breed whitey"? Awesome. Who will pay the benefits then?

and in 40 years, I'll be sitting on my porch, holding my shotgun, sipping from my jug, and waiting.

[Morcs]

If it wasnt for a conscious effort to use the maori language, it would all but completely die out - as naturally it doesnt really have a place or use. This is just another ploy along those lines.

Its the same with deliberate moves to change place names and all that crap too - the only way to try and keep crap alive that shouldve been left behind from mainstream society long ago.

[oneofsix]

I'm sorry but Te Reo Māori is used every day in this country. I'm certainly surrounded by people who use it from preference as it is their first language ... you can hear it used on the street and shops of Whakatane every day ...

There are some places in this country where people who speak only English are at a disadvantage, and that will grow as the Māori population increases and the European-descent population decreases ...

How are some of you who are European-descent going to cope in 40 years time when you are in the minority in this country and only speak one of it's everyday languages?

(Those of you who will be dead don't need to point that out)

At least it will be the language that the rest of the world has an interest in. English, the language of technology and commerce :woohoo:

[Woodman]

Compulsory? No, but I have heard that once you pick up a second language e.g. Maori then it is a lot easier to pick up a third and so on. We already know how to pronounce maori words through place names etc and with words like mana, kai and whanau becoming more mainstream we are some way there already.
I actually think that there is a hybrid New Zealand /Aotearoa language developing that encompasses Maori and English and thats a good thing.
We can thank the All Blacks for getting that ball rolling with the national anthem.

[matdaymon]

Lets also not forget the small minority who believe us whitey's shouldnt be allowed to speak Te Reo at all too. My (adopted) sister's first husband's family rejected her and drover her out of the family after she went out and did a degree in Te Reo to try and get closer to them... bit backwards that lot but they do exist out there.

Pretty much an argument you can't win. You either half ass learning it to attempt to please one group, but then forget it all to not be murdered by another:shutup:

[Banditbandit]

So the master plan is "out-breed whitey"? Awesome. Who will pay the benefits then?

and in 40 years, I'll be sitting on my porch, holding my shotgun, sipping from my jug, and waiting.

No, it's not a plan .. it's just happening .. current European-descent birth rates are lower than those required to sustain a population at its present level (around 2.3 births per 2 people) current Polynesian birth rates (Māori and Pasifika) are much higher than required to sustain a population - so the European-descent population is shrinking and aging .. adn the Polynesian population is growing ...

As well, the Polynesian population is much younger - while the European-descent population is aging ...

So when you are sitting on your porch with a shotgun and sipping your jug it will be the Polynesian workers (Māori and Pasifika) who will be paying taxes so you can get a pension and pay for your jug ... I hope they are in jobs earning enough money to support whitey in his old age ...

[oneofsix]

Compulsory? No, but I have heard that once you pick up a second language e.g. Maori then it is a lot easier to pick up a third and so on. We already know how to pronounce maori words through place names etc and with words like mana, kai and whanau becoming more mainstream we are some way there already.
I actually think that there is a hybrid New Zealand /Aotearoa language developing that encompasses Maori and English and thats a good thing.
We can thank the All Blacks for getting that ball rolling with the national anthem.

the word mana is used in lots of languages.
It wasn't the All Blacks that started the ball rolling, one of their intro singers that got lambasted for it originally, I thought. But it is the international sporting arena that keeps it going.
I was forced to learn French on the same basis, didn't work and just turned me against it.
Lead don't force and then you will find willing people like yourself who will learn it.

[matdaymon]

Just read the article. Another one of Dr Sharples ideas. Dude's heart is in the right place. Just needs a bit more thinking through to actually make implementable.

And as above. If something is forced on you, you immediately resent it and don't really put the needed effort in to learn.

[XxKiTtiExX]

Too meke! Speaking da english is all choice as bro! Speaking the te reo lingo is all part of being a treacher at skool dese days bay!

Otherwise you gets all whakama about it! But, I reckons that nuffink a good feeds and a hui can't solve! Chur chur! :msn-wink: Ke kite ano!

Huhuhuhuhuhuhu!!!

[Toaster]

What a wasste of money. What use is that going to be? Much better to make Mandarin a compulsory cause for students. Thats a language that will actually be of use in their future. Wish I could have learned it at school.

But compulsory maori? About as useful as learning Egyptian hieroglyphics.

I couldn't agree more. Languages more widely spoken will serve many well in the multinational careers many have.

Where I work we need almost every kind of interpreter to deal with the non-english speaking people we deal with (some of which have lived in NZ as residents and citizens for over 10 years and speak not a word of our english language).

I too wish we had language options at school. It was rugby or nothing in my day and typing was for girls, computers for nerds.

[MSTRS]

In other news, Shrek the sheep died last week. His Hangi will be held tomorrow.

[oneofsix]

In other news, Shrek the sheep died last week. His Hangi will be held tomorrow.

Now I understand why they were talking of sending him to Te Papa - for the Marae there :drool:

[Banditbandit]

I was forced to learn French on the same basis, didn't work and just turned me against it.
Lead don't force and then you will find willing people like yourself who will learn it.

I agree .. I managed to get Six Percent for School Cert French ... buggered if I know how I managed to get a mark that high ...

I'm not hung up on the compulsion ... I think it's off putting ...

[oneofsix]

I agree .. I managed to get Six Percent for School Cert French ... buggered if I know how I managed to get a mark that high ...

I'm not hung up on the compulsion ... I think it's off putting ...

awl awl I know you turned up for the exam hence the extra 5%. Sons mate didn't even turn up at his French exam and still got 1%.

Seems we agree on the compulsion thing though. Funny as it may sound I was interested in learning Maori until it became pc, then I too could have been illiterate in two languages, :shit: if I hadn't revolved against French I could have made it 3 and all badly pronounced to boot. :laugh:

[MSTRS]

I'm not hung up on the compulsion ... I think it's off putting ...

Et tu, Brute?

[Banditbandit]

Et tu, Brute?

Naw .. I support the concept of teaching Māori and equiping people to deal with the different groups in our society and the languages they speak ...

But I'm just an anarchist at heart and resist compulsory anything ...

[jasonu]

I'm sorry but Te Reo Māori is used every day in this country. I'm certainly surrounded by people who use it from preference as it is their first language ... you can hear it used on the street and shops of Whakatane every day ...



Well if they speak it in Whakatane shops and streets then clearly we all should be useing it...

[imdying]

Well if they speak it in Whakatane shops and streets then clearly we all should be useing it...Whakatane might not be the big smoke, but it's still <span onclick="cornify_add();return false;">New Zealand ("")</span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.cornify.com/js/cornify.js"></script>.

[avgas]

I am all for teaching everyone Maori. The Chinese did similar with Mandarin, and it worked. (Yes that is right, Mandarin was MADE a national language).

However before we make everyone speak it, how about making it compulsory for Maori first. Say if you want to be on the Maori voting form.....from now on it will be completely in Te Reo, all information packs for it likewise.

I personally will just be happy if my son doesn't bark like a dog and cluck like a chicken. But with me being failed in English, Maori, French, Japanese and German and only really speaking Math. And me wife speaking Math, Mandarin, Shanghainese, English and a little Japanese he should hopefully end up with some sort of bastard language that will allow him to communicate to the people around him.

[jasonu]

Whakatane might not be the big smoke, but it's still <span onclick="cornify_add();return false;">New Zealand ("")</span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.cornify.com/js/cornify.js"></script>.

I am as Kiwi as the next bloke. Circumstances keep me here (hopefully for not much longer) but I keep a close eye on home. I haven't missed a general election vote yet and I bet there are a lot that have never left the country that can't say that.

Rather than learning the Maori language that really won't get you far in life (unless you live in Whakatane of course) I would rather see my kids learn Spanish as that is a language that is used in many parts of the world.

[admenk]

As one of the official languages of NZ, it would seem sensible that Maori is taught to a decent level in schools :innocent: Back home in the UK, kids in Wales now learn English and Welsh at school, and I don't think the sky's caved in yet. I took a Te Reo Maori course last year and it was one of the most enjoyable learning experiences i've had (and you know how bad us poms are at other peoples languages!) Without going into all the political crap, what's wrong with promoting a language that's from the country you're living in?

[imdying]

I would rather see my kids learn Spanish as that is a language that is used in many parts of the world.Sixth most used IIRC.

[Dodgy]

I still don't see Maori options up at the McDonald's drive thru - what's up with that??

[imdying]

We should totally make that a KB mission to be completed by Christmas :laugh: :innocent:

[admenk]

I still don't see Maori options up at the McDonald's drive thru - what's up with that??

Was it mentioned in the treaty? :innocent:

[MSTRS]

I personally will just be happy if my son doesn't bark like a dog ...

You sure about that?
I say teach him how to bark like a dog, say "Seig Heil" and to make gang signs...

[Banditbandit]

You sure about that?
I say teach him how to bark like a dog, say "Seig Heil" and to make gang signs...

You think he should learn German ???? But that's no use since they lost the war ..

[tigertim20]

What a wasste of money. What use is that going to be? Much better to make Mandarin a compulsory cause for students. Thats a language that will actually be of use in their future. Wish I could have learned it at school.

But compulsory maori? About as useful as learning Egyptian hieroglyphics.

I have to agree, and Ive been syaing the same thing for years. I can see why they might want us to learn about maori culture, it is part of our past so fair enough, but I dont see the need to learn the language.

[{.bLanK}G_o_D]

Before we start thinking about teaching a second language, how about we teach our kids to speak English properly first?
I'd rather teach my kids Klingon!

Fucking darkies are getting more cheeky every year.

[nzmikey]

In other news, Shrek the sheep died last week. His Hangi will be held tomorrow.

Does that mean i get a week off so i can morn him & the other crap that goes on ??
:facepalm:

[brendonjw]

Back in school my intermediate teacher taught us Spanish instead of Maori as she could see it being a lot more usefull in the real world and doing business (this was a school in south auckland as well) and I have to agree with her, something like Spanish, Manderine or French would be a lot more useful in todays world. If a language was gonig to be made compulsary i would say one of those would be the better ones. As a side point most the other students who dont have english as a first language seem to get on fine at school so i dont see why we have to force teachers to learn Maori.. :innocent:

[superman]

How many more people who get degrees to become teachers are going to run away now...

[imdying]

How many more people who get degrees to become teachers are going to run away now...I wouldn't think very many, and probably no loss. Bullshitting and taking the mick out of the natives aside, it's hardly the end of the world.

[XxKiTtiExX]

You sure about that?
I say teach him how to bark like a dog, say "Seig Heil" and to make gang signs...


Sounds very, very familiar!!!!!

[The Stranger]

I hope they are in jobs earning enough money to support whitey in his old age ...

Tongue in cheek I see. You better hope that last whitey is one rich mother fucker cause he's going to have one hell of a dole, treaty settlement and DPB bill to pay. Best you look after them well whilst you got the chance.

[MSTRS]

Sounds very, very familiar!!!!!

You spend a lot of time outside courthouses?

It's actually quite an achievement, you know. Being tri-lingual and all. Two spoken AND sign language as well.

[XxKiTtiExX]

You spend a lot of time outside courthouses?

It's actually quite an achievement, you know. Being tri-lingual and all. Two spoken AND sign language as well.

I saw an article in regards to the brainless twat that barked and did the old sieg heil at the judge lmfao :facepalm:

[spookytooth]

it will be the Polynesian workers (Māori and Pasifika) who will be paying taxes money .
Now theres a sentence i have never seen before and don't expect to see again in a long time

[The Stranger]

Ok, speaking as one who speaks only one language, so I can't says I'm all knowledgable in this area.
But as I see it the world is about communication. The pen being mightier than the sword etc.

Does it do any harm to expand one's ability to communicate? Different languages have different ideas and concepts and allow to communicate ideas in different ways. Is this bad?

Some people communicate with their fist - they tend to wind up in jail. Why not allow for and provide an alternative way for them to communicate that doesn't rely on fists? Would that not be better for both the perp, the victim and the community?

Now not being a rocket surgeon and all, but I strongly suspect that ANY knowledge and ANY learning is in general good for the brain. So on this front can it really be bad to learn another language? I tend to think not and I can't say I've ever regretted gaining knowledge or understanding and I'd like to think learning keeps me sane and rational.

So one can argue the merrits of learning different languages, but in the end is it not generally beneficial that people learn this one anyway?

So to all you whiteys out there bleating about this - are you sure it's not a knee jerk racism bleat?

[schrodingers cat]

What next FFS?

Next they'll expect teachers to be competant users of English

Right, off to slap some aloe vera on my neck - must have caught too much sun

[Shadowjack]

Next they'll expect teachers to be competant users of English

If it hadn't been in the context shown above, and not to be picky, but:
competent?

And has far as the thread goes, what's with all the negative reaction to learning one of NZ's official languages? It couldn't possibly be fear of the unknown, surely, because we are talking about our neighbours, friends, and families, aren't we?

[blue rider]

........

and in 40 years, I'll be sitting on my porch, holding my shotgun, sipping from my jug, and waiting.

hey that was my retirement plan

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[schrodingers cat]

If it hadn't been in the context shown above, and not to be picky, but:
competent?

And has far as the thread goes, what's with all the negative reaction to learning one of NZ's official languages? It couldn't possibly be fear of the unknown, surely, because we are talking about our neighbours, friends, and families, aren't we?

You're totally right about the spelling A+ and I'd just like to take the opportunity to say once again publicly that the decision to leave the profession was mine and mine alone. Those rumours about the chicken and the bike sheds were a vicious smear campaign because they were jealous of the elbow patchs on my tweed jacket.

[tri boy]

Its all just Greek to me.

[scumdog]

So when you are sitting on your porch with a shotgun and sipping your jug it will be the Polynesian workers (Māori and Pasifika) who will be paying taxes so you can get a pension and pay for your jug ... ..

Well they had better up the pace regarding getting jobs and NOT getting prison then....otherwise my jug will be empty and my shotgun rusty...

[Swoop]

You think he should learn German ???? But that's no use since they lost the war ..
To use modern PC-speak...
They didn't lose. They came second.:yes:

[Hitcher]

Ko aua mōhio me tū hei kaiwhakamāori, ā kaua te kūare e kīia kia tū, nō te mea mā te kūare e hē ai te iwi.

[Pussy]

Ko aua mōhio me tū hei kaiwhakamāori, ā kaua te kūare e kīia kia tū, nō te mea mā te kūare e hē ai te iwi.

Which, translated, means: Here are the scratchings at Te Rapa for race two....

[FJRider]

I reckon French will be the go ... cause (when) if they win the world cup ... again ... all the All Blacks that go there to play ... will know the language ... :innocent:

[Hitcher]

Which, translated, means: Here are the scratchings at Te Rapa for race two....

Not quite. More like "The nosewheel on your Fletcher has dropped off. Go around."

[rapid van cleef]

From a slightly different angle.............

Well, as a teacher in a NZ high school with around 50% Maori, my 'basic' use of Maori in every lesson makes a massive difference in how all of the kids react to me. They take me more seriously and have more respect because I have taken some time to learn some phrases from their language and therefore acknowledge their culture. I rarely have behaviour issues with any students( over 2 years since i have had to send a kid out of class) and even the hardend gang members in school acknowledge me in a positive manner and talk to with respect even when outside school. It is not rocket science.

I have witnessed so much discrimination towards Maori kids in schools here its not funny. And it is usually the same teachers that have behaviour issues with Maori kids.


Not totally on point but relevant from another angle maybe?

discuss........



Anyhooo............back to my vodka!

[Hitcher]

Not totally on point but relevant from another angle maybe?

Totally on point. Maori isn't "their" language, it's "our" language. It's something that defines us as New Zealanders. Generally when people disrespect Te Reo it's due to inherent racism. Whether people choose to learn it or not is another matter entirely. Compulsion, as suggested in media reports earlier today, is not likely to happen for a whole bunch of reasons, not least of which being the resources and costs necessary to convert the teaching profession to the suggested level of competency.

[rapid van cleef]

I suppose it is on point.

Lets be realistic here, I use phrases like good morning, good bye, hello, sit down, quiet, well done, thank you, shut up/be quiet, stand up in Maori.(english spelling becuase my maori is VERY basic) and it makes a huge difference. Its not hard. In my opinion, the negativity towards the propsed strategy is a result of inherent rascism, but what do i know?

If I had to learn to speak competent Maori it would take me some time, but its part and parcel of the job.....and guess what..........it actually decreases behaviour issues, which makes my job easier...............amazing!

Any tool that we a teachers can use to make our days less stressful and the students more successful, regardless of their race is a good one.

[Genie]

not read a thing here bar the title...and



I work at school and can't get my tongue arount the Maori Language and dont' really care....would rather my tongue elsewhere.....

who really gives a f....


now counts.....yesterday is over

[FJRider]

Any tool that we a teachers can use to make our days less stressful and the students more successful, regardless of their race is a good one.

A metre long length of bamboo ... did wonders ... :yes:

An instant lesson in actions/results ... :shutup:

[rapid van cleef]

getting your tongue around the languge is nothing more than practice. We are all born with the same physical tools to make the sounds we use in our verbal communications with each other. It comes down to, can you be arsed? is it important to you? will it make a difference to the quality of your life and the others around you? if not, then its not relevant, and thats ok

Im from the UK and found Maori weird when I arrived here 5 years ago. Similarly, the Maori kids found my Geordie accent hard to deal with. I reckon if you are brought up here and are NOT rascist, then it should be easier surely as your exposure to it is more than someone that has never heard it spoken before.

But if learning it will not make your life a little easier, as in, you never need to interact with Maori people at all anywhere, then no worries.

I refused to take french seriosuly when i was at school.....after all.....who likes the french?.........lol

Rolling the 'r' is tricky, but gets easier with practice.

[avgas]

my Geordie accent...
You stay right there. I will just get my stick.

[rapid van cleef]

haha....... hey man !wey wots the marra like?

[MSTRS]

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm21hnWMzD1qgy0fio1_400.jpg

[Str8 Jacket]

Totally on point. Maori isn't "their" language, it's "our" language. It's something that defines us as New Zealanders. Generally when people disrespect Te Reo it's due to inherent racism. Whether people choose to learn it or not is another matter entirely. Compulsion, as suggested in media reports earlier today, is not likely to happen for a whole bunch of reasons, not least of which being the resources and costs necessary to convert the teaching profession to the suggested level of competency.

I agree with Hitcher. NZ was once a very unique country (IMO), Maori language was taught at all my schools from primary through to high school. It is one of the few things we have left that makes us uniquely NZ.

[jasonu]

And has far as the thread goes, what's with all the negative reaction to learning one of NZ's official languages?

Because the kids time in school is limited and they should be making sure they spend it learning useful things that will help them become widely employable. Things like reading (English), writing (English) and arithmetic come to mind.

[MSTRS]

Because the kids time in school is limited and they should be making sure they spend it learning useful things that will help them become widely employable. Things like reading (English), writing (English) and arithmetic come to mind.

What? Literate kids? Who don't need a calculator?
How quaint...

[Shadowjack]

Because the kids time in school is limited and they should be making sure they spend it learning useful things that will help them become widely employable. Things like reading (English), writing (English) and arithmetic come to mind.
Ah, yes, useful things...
There are a handful of other useful things to perhaps be aware of, relating to this thread:

In 10-20 years time (I forget the figure exactly), I was made aware that the % of school-leavers with Maori-PI backgrounds will be approaching 50% (post 25 covers the same ground).
Iwi-based business enterprises are becoming a much larger part of the NZ economy, and this trend will continue as they liaise and network on an inter-iwi basis. Iwi-based enterprises will do business with non-iwi based businesses, but I will predict that this will increasingly be on iwi terms.
R, wR, and aR in English, sure, but it should be a matter of pride for all NZ'ers to have at least a working knowledge of the official languages of NZ, and with the cultures of Aotearoa.


So, there are increasing economic/employable reasons, not to mention respect for each other as NZer's, for teaching Maori in schools.

[imdying]

it should be a matter of pride for all NZ'ers to have at least a working knowledge of the official languages of NZ, and with the cultures of Aotearoa.Why? That adds no value to the country.

[Shadowjack]

Why? That adds no value to the country.
That may depend on the scope and context in which the term "value" is used or defined

[TomJ]

A metre long length of bamboo ... did wonders ... :yes:

An instant lesson in actions/results ... :shutup:

lets face facts the 'stick' is not coming back no matter how much some might wish for it... making a connection with difficult kids is the best way to keep them on side in class, from robbing your house or cheeking your family. That might mean watching them play rugby, speaking to them (not at them) or using a few words in their language - Maori or otherwise

Teachers should know this and use the language from choice not compulsion

[imdying]

That may depend on the scope and context in which the term "value" is used or definedNot at all. Any country that has more than one official language is just plain retarded. Less retarded than colonising somewhere and not shooting all the natives (not just the facilitate the language change of course), but still retarded.

[FJRider]

Not at all. Any country that has more than one official language is just plain retarded. Less retarded than colonising somewhere and not shooting all the natives (not just the facilitate the language change of course), but still retarded.

Interesting theory ... I spent two years living in Singapore ...

They had five (from memory) official languages ...

And you think our laws are strict ...

[Shadowjack]

I think the troll detector just went off...

[fuknKIWI]

I still don't see Maori options up at the McDonald's drive thru - what's up with that??
:lol: supasize me bro

[The Lone Rider]

What a waste of money. What use is that going to be? Much better to make Mandarin a compulsory cause for students. Thats a language that will actually be of use in their future. Wish I could have learned it at school.

But compulsory maori? About as useful as learning Egyptian hieroglyphics.

I completely agree. I have a child being fed by her mother a useless language few people speak outside of a small community. Something of substance and use would have been good.

On the upside, if we go to war the enemy ain't fuckin likely to understand a word of Maori.

[Brian d marge]

Is that Just the language or will they Immerse themselves in Maori culture,

Stephen

[Usarka]

Teachers are too old and stupid to learn anything new especially a language.

[oneofsix]

Teachers are too old and stupid to learn anything new especially a language.

sorry but there is some truth to your statement. Learning multiple languages is best started at a young age to retain the brains ability to learn languages. As most NZers adults don't know more than 1 language the next best place to start would be pre-schools. But first you have to have the teachers.
Now if all the unemployed Maori we hear so much about are flaunt in Maori they could be employed as teacher aids to introduce the under 5s to another language. This could be extended up to the 7 year olds. :yes:

[PrincessBandit]

No, it's not a plan .. it's just happening .. current European-descent birth rates are lower than those required to sustain a population at its present level (around 2.3 births per 2 people) current Polynesian birth rates (Māori and Pasifika) are much higher than required to sustain a population - so the European-descent population is shrinking and aging .. adn the Polynesian population is growing ...

As well, the Polynesian population is much younger - while the European-descent population is aging ...

So when you are sitting on your porch with a shotgun and sipping your jug it will be the Polynesian workers (Māori and Pasifika) who will be paying taxes so you can get a pension and pay for your jug ... I hope they are in jobs earning enough money to support whitey in his old age ...

We were told this (about the birth rate and demographics change you speak of) in the Te Whakaako in secondary schools course I did last year in training college. As part of that paper we actually had to sit a te reo test - (which I did very well in).

To be honest though, my experience is that for me personally I'd be better off learning Samoan!!

[jasonu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5OS4dfD2mE