INTRODUCTION

Presented in the Maori language, Te Aho Matua has been written by the pioneers of Kura Kaupapa Maori as a foundation document for their kura.

As such, the document lays down the principles by which Kura Kaupapa Maori identify themselves as a unified group committed to a unique schooling system which they regard as being vital to the education of their children.

Te Aho Matua, therefore, provides a philosophical base for the teaching and learning of children and provides policy guidelines for parents, teachers and Boards of Trustees in their respective roles and responsibilities.

Te Aho Matua is intended for inclusion in the charters of Kura Kaupapa Maori as the means by which their special nature can be clearly identified from mainstream kura.

Te Aho Matua also provides a basis from which curriculum planning and design can evolve, allowing for diversity while maintaining an integral unity.

Te Aho Matua has been written in a typically elliptical Maori style which implies meaning and requires interpretation rather than translation.

Te Aho Matua is presented in six parts, each part having a special focus on what, from a Maori point of view, is crucial in the education of children for the future.

Part 1

Te Ira Tangata

This part of the document focuses on the nature of humankind, and more particularly on the nature of the child. The Maori, perception of the child is encapsulated in two well known whakatauaki, or proverbs.

The first, which says, Ahakoa he iti, he mapihi pounamu refers to the singular beauty and immense value of even the tiniest piece of fine greenstone.

There are two related interpretations of the second proverb which says, He kakano i ruia mai i Rangiatea. E kore ia e ngaro. The first interpretation refers to the child as the seed which was dispersed from Rangiätea, the island in the Society Group from which the ancestors of the Maori migrated. The second interpretation refers to the child as the seed which was dispersed from the marae, also named Rangiatea, of the supreme deity, lo‑matua.

The last line in this proverb affirms that the seed will never be lost. This statement implies a strong physical orientation for life, like that of the ancestors who faced the unknown on the high seas in search of a new home. It also implies the certainty of spiritual life since humankind emanated from the marae of Io.

When both proverbs are applied to the child, the nurture and education of that child takes on a significance which is fundamental to Kura Kaupapa Maori philosophy.

The statement which follows the proverbs suggests that the teaching fraternity ought to have full knowledge of the makeup of humankind before an effective system of teaching and learning for children can be devised.

What follows is a statement which presents a Maori perspective as to the origin and nature of the human spirit. It was felt that herein lay one of the answers for recovery from the malaise induced by loss of land, power and sovereignty which has been, and still is for many, the experience of Maori people.

The statement says that the spirits of human beings derive from the Rangi Tuhaha, the twelve dimensions of enlightenment in which spirit entities dwell until physical life is desired and to which spirit entity return after physical death. The inference is that at the moment of conception the physical and spiritual potential of the human being becomes an individual entity endowed with the spirit qualities of mauri, tapu, wehi, mana, and ihi; the spirit receptor-transmitters of whatumanawa, hinengaro, auaha, ngakau and pumanawa. and the iho matua, which is the umbilical cord of spirit energy which links that single entity through his ancestral lines to the primal energy source which is Io.

The spirit qualities referred to here can best be described as emanations of energy, the strength or weakness of which is determined by the condition of the receptor‑transmitters where feelings, emotions, intelligence, consciousness, conscience and all other non‑physical characteristics of human personality dwell.

Most often referred to as taha wairua these aspects of the human spirit are considered as important as physical attributes, not to be dismissed as the domain and responsibility of church or religion, but regarded as an integral part of human personality and, therefore, is responsive to and affected by teaching and learning.

In summary, then, Te Ira Tangata focuses on the physical and spiritual endowment of children and the importance of nurturing both in their education. Kura Kaupapa Maori therefore:

• challenge parents, teachers and trustees to work together in establishing a harmonious, child‑centred learning environment in which care, consideration and co‑operation are acknowledged as necessary elements for the successful operation of the kura for the greatest benefit of its children.

• propose that the role of the kura is all round development of its children rather than career orientation.

• assert that the nurturing of body and soul in a caring environment is the greatest guarantee that children will pursue positive roles in life.

• affirm that affectionate nurturing breeds happy hearts and lithesome spirits and thereby, warm and casing people.

• honour all people regardless of age, creed, colour, gender or persuasion and will not therefore, belittle, resent, hurt or show prejudice toward anyone else.

• honour gender differences and attributes in full understanding that it is in the combined and co‑operative efforts of men and women that the well‑being of children and community is assured.

• respect the physical body and encourage children to pursue habits which guarantee personal health and well‑being.

• respect the physical and spiritual uniqueness of the individual and are therefore mindful of not perpetrating physical or psychological harm against oneself or others.

• affirm that the needs of the spirit are well served through the creative arts of music and song, dance and drama, drawing and painting, prose and poetry and all the activities which give full sway to colour and imagining.

Part 2

Te Reo

Having established the nature of the child this part of the document focuses on language policy and how Kura Kaupapa Maori can best advance the language learning of their children.

As a natural and logical progression for graduates of Kohanga Reo, a primary focus of Kura Kaupapa Maori is the continuing development of the Maori language of their children. At the same time there exists a particular concern among some parents that the English language skills of their children should also be addressed. The primary language issue for Kura Kaupapa Maori became one of determining how the optimum result could be achieved in the development of both languages.

Indeed, the issue called for considerable research including a review of the literature which described the experiences of other language communities, especially those whose language, like that of the Maori, was experiencing serious decline. The language policies and teaching practices of other nation states, where bilingualism was a valued attribute for citizenship and the learning of a second language in educational institutions was encouraged, provided a rich panorama of experience from which the first Kura Kaupapa Maori could base its language policy.

The principle of total immersion featured in much of the literature, and the published research experiments of Lambert and his associates in the French & English Quebec experience legitimised total immersion as being particularly effective in advancing the French language competence of English speaking children.

So did the research studies of Dr Lily Wong‑Fillmore, Professor of Education, University of California, Berkley, USA, in which a range of second language learning methodologies, being used to teach elementary school children English were compared. Of these, total immersion proved to be significantly more effective.

The Ataarangi and Kohanga Reo initiatives which had preceded Kura Kaupapa Maori by 5 years had already established the effectiveness of total immersion. This then became firm policy for Kura Kaupapa Maori.

In summary, then, Te Reo focuses on bilingual competence and sets principles by which this competence will be achieved. Kura Kaupapa Maori therefore:

• respect all languages.

• expect full competency in Maori and English for the children of their kura.

• insist that legislation for the Maori language is worthless without a total commitment to everyday usage of Maori.

• affirm that total immersion most rapidly develops language competence and assert that the language of kura be., for the most part, exclusively Maori.

• accept that there is an appropriate time for the introduction of English at which time there shall be a separate English language teacher and a separate language learning facility.

• agree that the appropriate time for the introduction of English is a matter for the kura whanau to decide as a general rule, when children are reading and writing competently in Maori, and children indicate an interest in English.

• assert that along with total immersion, bilingual competence is rapidly advanced through discretely separating the two languages and therefore reject the mixing or code‑switching of the two languages.

• insist that competence in Maori language and culture along with a commitment to the Aho Matua be the hallmark of Kura Kaupapa Maori teachers and parents but that there be accommodation for those who are still in the learning phase.

• believe that where there is a commitment to the language mastery will follow.

Part 3

Ngä Iwi

Having established the nature of children with respect to their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs, and determining the most effective approach to language learning, this part of the document focuses on the social agencies which influence the development of children, in short, all those people with whom they interact as they make sense of their world and find their rightful place within it.

In traditional society whanau was the socialising agency of children and the fragmentation of this fundamental social structure in the urban drift of Maori away from their tribal centres is one of the variables which has contributed to the 'lost generations' of Maoridom.

It seemed immensely desirable that the whanau, which in this context, are all those people associated with the kura and its children, should be established as a fully functioning socialising agency, where each member of the whanau contribute to the education of all of the children. This communal responsibility for all children has to be one of the most positive moves of accommodating single-parent and dysfunctional families whose children are most at risk, while at the same time providing a haven where such families and their children can recover both stability and dignity in their lives.

All people derive from a unique culture which shapes their perception of self as belonging to, participating in, and contributing to the continuum of life. The uniqueness of Maori social structures must therefore be reflected in the entirety of the kura, allowing the children to consolidate their place amongst their own people as the safe ground from which they can begin, with expanding consciousness, to explore the life ways of other people.

Given that these two important factors contribute to the special nature of Kura Kaupapa Maori and are particularly relevant to curriculum, to the functioning of Boards of Trustees, and to the interaction of the kura with its whanau, it follows that teacher training should also be a major consideration for kura.

It cannot be assumed that the graduates of main‑stream teacher training will meet the requirements of kura. In fact kura may need to target potential teachers from within the kura whanau, and to seek a suitable training package which allows such people to qualify as teachers for their kura.

As a further consideration, experience has shown that school size is a significant factor. A small school allows greater whanau participation with all the children. This same participation tends to dissipate as kura get larger. Kura may need, therefore, to set the parameters as to what their ideal population should be in order to fulfil the promise of success for all their children.

In summary then, Ngä M focuses on the principles which are important in the socialisation of children. Kura Kaupapa Maori therefore:

• emphasise the importance of genealogy in establishing links within whanau, hapa, and iwi including iwi Pakeha.

• emphasise the importance for children to know their own ancestral links and to explore their links with other iwi.

• emphasise that children be secure in their knowledge about their own people but learn about and acknowledge other people and their societies.

• emphasise that children study the historical, cultural, political, social, religious and economic events and issues which are an integral part of their Maori heritage.

• emphasise that whanau ties are fundamental in the socialisation of children and is established and reinforced in a caring, supportive environment where aroha is evident.

• assert that such learning is caught rather than taught and is the primary reason for the kura whanau to be close to and involved in the activities of the children.
• emphasise that the association and interaction of the whanau with the children, where whanau approval or disapproval is felt by the children, is also where their sense of appropriate and acceptable behaviour begins.

• value the participation of whanau as administrators, ancillary staff and teacher support as a means of reinforcing the cohesion of whanau and kura.
• affirm that the kura belongs to the whanau and is available for the learning activities of all the whanau members.
• assert that teacher training is a legitimate function of the kura and that aspiring teachers have extended experience in the kura before and during formal training.
• submit that the size of the kura is a factor in facilitating or mitigating against the participation of whanau.

Part 4

Te Ao

Having established the nature of children, their language learning and the people who influence their socialisation, this part of the document focuses on the world which surround children and about which there are fundamental truths which effect their lives.

Young children are naturally fascinated by every aspect of the natural world which enter their expanding field of experience. The task for the kura whanau is maintaining this fascination and optimising those experiences which contribute to their understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and the interconnectedness of everything within it.

Further to this, children need also to understand that the activities of people, including themselves, can have a detrimental effect on the environment and its resources.

In summary then, Te Ao encompasses those aspects of the world itself which impact on the learning of children. Kura Kaupapa Maori therefore:

• recognise that the learning of children encompasses what enters their field of experience at home, in the Maori world, and in the world at large.
• legitimise Maori knowledge of nature and the universe as an important and integral part of learning.
• encourage children to marvel at and value all life forms, and the balance of nature which gives each of those life forms their right of existence.
• develop in children an understanding that they are caretakers of the environment and are true to the laws of conservation passed down by their Maori forebears, as well as those practices which are environmentally friendly.
• inspire children to explore the natural and cosmic laws of the universe through the sciences and whatever means enhances understanding.

Part 5 

Ahuatanga Ako

Taken altogether, the perception of children being central in an ever expanding world of experience which is accessed through the people with whom they associate and language, the implications for curriculum become evident. This model provides for every aspect of learning which the whanau feel is important for their children as well as the requirements of the national curriculum.

A further and final consideration is how best to achieve this in practice.

Ahuatanga Ako lists the principles of teaching practice which are considered of vital importance in the education of children. Kura Kaupapa Maori, therefore:

• assert that teaching and learning be a happy and stimulating experience for children
• practise karakia as a means of settling the spirit, clearing the mind, and releasing tension so that concentration on the task at hand is facilitated.
• value the presence of supportive adults as important participants in the teaching/ learning process.
• emphasise the particular value of concentrated listening as a skill to be thoroughly learned by children.
• encourage the use of body, mind and all the senses in learning; listening; thinking and quiet concentration; visualisation and observation; touching; feeling and handling; questioning and discussing; analysing and synthesising; testing hypotheses; creative exploration.
• adopt teaching practices and principles which accommodate different styles of learning and motivate optimal learning.
• honour kaumatua as the repositories of Maori knowledge and invite their participation as advisors and fellow teachers.
• expose children to the protocols of hospitality in the home, at school and on the marae, and require their participation at cultural functions in roles appropriate to their ages and levels of maturation.
• accept that healthy relationships between brothers and sisters. younger and older siblings. children, parents and elders are the joint responsibility of the kura whanau.
• encourage older children to care for the young ones and to occasionally assist in their learning activities, and younger children to accept the guidance of their older peers.
• emphasise the importance of creating a learning environment which is interesting, stimulating and reflects the Maori world.
• expand the learning environment to include marae, the wide‑open spaces of bush, sea and sky, libraries and museums, and all other places which contribute to learning.
• welcome innovative ways of stimulating the learning of children but encourage self motivation.
• provide for the special interests that individual children may have in the development of self‑directed learning.
• encourage shared and co-operative ways of learning.

Part 6

Te Tino Uaratanga

Having encapsulated in the foregoing statements the major areas to be considered in the education of children in Kura Kaupapa Maori, a final consideration focuses on what the outcome might be for children who graduate from Kura Kaupapa Maori.

Kura Kaupapa Maori will have in place appropriate measures for assessing and evaluating the achievement of their children at all levels of the national curriculum as well as whatever else the kura decides are valuable areas of knowledge for their children.

This part of the document focuses, however, on the whole person in terms of a fully functioning human being whose personal attributes are recognised, nurtured and brought to fruition.

In summary then, Te Tino Uaratanga defines the characteristics which Kura Kaupapa Maori aim to develop in their children, that they:

• develop free, open and inquiring minds alert to every area of knowledge which they choose to pursue in their lives.
• become competent thinkers, listeners, speakers, readers and writers in both Maori and English.
• advance their individual talents to the highest levels of achievement. delight in using their creative talents in all feats of endeavour.are receptive to and have a great capacity for aroha, for joy and for laughter.
• are true and faithful to their own sense of personal integrity while being caring, considerate, and co‑operative with others.
• assimilate the fruits of learning into the deeper recesses of consciousness where knowing refreshes the spirit.
• manifest self‑esteem, self‑confidence, self‑discipline and well developed qualities of leadership.
• value their independence and self-determination in setting personal goals and achieving them.
• radiate the joy of living.
• manifest physical and spiritual well‑being through the harmonious alignment of body, mind and spirit
• are secure in the knowledge of their ancestral links to the divine source of all humanity.
• are high achievers who exemplify the hopes and aspirations of their people.

Te Aho Matua o nga Kura Kaupapa Maori,  

mai i Te Runanga Nui o nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa, 2000.