Compulsory Maori for teachers

[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.

[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