Compulsory Maori for teachers

[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:Me]

[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:Me]

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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 ...

An instant lesson in actions/results ...

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 defined

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.

[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??

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.