18th Century Learning

In the 18th century the learning process was unique among the natives in New Zealand. At that time the learning process began through listening; when the children were in their mothers’ womb by their mother with chanting different lullabies. As children grew up, it was important for them to learn their cultural values, norms, positive attitude to work and practical activities to survive and contribute to their society. The children used to receive formal learning from their families; where oral learning method was used to teach them the values, history and appropriate behaviour. The adults obtained “on the job training” as learning method to teach their children the survival skills (Calman, 2012). However, this learning form changed in the early 19th century during the British colonial period.

Thomas Kendall who was an English taught missionary of the Anglican Church, established the first school in NZ to teach Maori the western way of how to read and write. He published the first book in Maori language and used it in

Additionally, the civilised British government saw Maori as a “potential labouring class” as the government perceived Maori as “unintelligent” (Calman, 2012). Over the time this has become a usual practice where the government utilises Maori to build the colony. This situation can be explained by deficit approach in education. Deficit approach in education suggests that the children would lose their interest in learning or lag behind when they are constantly being poorly treated or getting negative feedback. Richard, Angelika, Kaaren, Shawn, & Dennis, 2000). Similarly, the British government was considering them as “labour class” for a very long period of time and were not motivating them or providing sufficient facilities to become skilled