HATO HOHEPA

St. joseph's maori girls' college was founded in 1867 by Euphrasie Barbier, Mother Mary of the Heart of Jesus. She left behind her a book of instructions to her Sisters on the training of youth. Her programme of study (according to the 1950 school magazine) included not only a sound knowledge of the three R's and the ordinary subjects, but also languages, music and singing—especially choir work—cooking, laundry work, nursing and needle work. Artistic training was not neglected.

These instructions have been the basis of the school's 87 years of teaching. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to listen to the choir, and it was a wonderful experience. As I write this, I still remember the fullness and melody of those well-trained voices regrettably hidden from a wider public.

The new block of classrooms and dormitories completed earlier this year makes the school second to none in amenities, and the cooking and sewing rooms are real models. Few house-wives would be shamed by the perfect, almost

staggering, neatness in which the whole institution is kept by the girls. Among the craft work I saw, I was interested in the adaptation of traditional Maori craft features to modern conditions. Examples were a lovely little carpet woven with Maori scroll designs and a large sewing box on legs whose sides consisted of tukutuku work. Such features will undoubtedly give atmosphere to homes.

St. Joseph's college plans its courses for girls who will ultimately settle down and set up home for themselves. The home crafts are emphasised; all Fourth and Fifth Form girls are given a complete course in mothercraft by the district health nurse. The Red Cross Association gives courses in first aid, home nursing and hygiene. At the same time it is considered that for future mothers nothing but the best will do educationally, and a high proportion of pupils obtain school certificates. With a roll of 140, the college offers an academic and a commercial course.

Over the last ten years a lively old girls' association has been built up with branches in every big centre. Branches have their own monthly meetings and functions, and a reunion is held at college once a year.

TE WHAITI NUI A TOI

The very rev. j. g. laughton, as Superintendent of the Presbyterian Maori Missions, is the spiritual father of the Te Whaiti Nui a Toi Farm and Training School. With only 26

boarders, hidden in the midst of the Urewera and started only in 1937, this small college is yet important in the history of Maori education for its bold and effective planning.

Mr Laughton believes that the Maori people are at present in a period between the break-down of tribal discipline and the arrival of family discipline. In this period there is an urgent need for real character training for Maori boys. He also believes that education in backblock areas has to be very practical to fit the situation confronting us; a lot of young people are not really fitted for advanced education and are made into better citizens by good practical training, with a core of normal education and skills.

In 1937, Te Whaiti Nui a Toi consisted of 440 acres of undeveloped Crown land. The mission bought it and built on it, teaches the boys in the morning and dedicates the after-noons to farming and land development. Core subjects are taught and formal instruction lasts about 15–16 hours per week. Arts and crafts are emphasised and much Maori carving is done, some very interesting in quality. The practical and theoretical aspects of agriculture and horticulture are always taught together; for example, at dipping times lessons and practical activity occur simultaneously, with lessons often in the open. Even arithmetic and simple book keeping are integrated with the practical farming activities, such as the books of the poultry farm. Milk testing is done at the school laboratory. Experiments in manuring are made in the school vegetable gardens, proving for instance the effect of the trace element molybdenum. Since 19–18 Te Whaiti Nui a Toi has been a registered post-primary boarding school. The boys' ages vary from 13 to 17, the majority being 15 or 16. At the beginning of this year, about 300 acres of the land had been developed and dairy and run cattle and sheep were carried.

At present the school faces the decision of whether or not to start offering school certificate courses. It is to be hoped this will ultimately be done.

I visited the school on the first day after the annual holidays, and while I was inside talking a truckload of boys arrived. An hour or so afterwards we went to see the cowshed, and there were the new arrivals, including some “new chums”, calmly and quite independently occupied about the shed, as though they had never been away. Nothing could show more clearly what the school meant to the boys and that they had absorbed a new way of life.

TE AUTE

Of the 135 pupils enrolled at Te Aute College this year, 58 take the agriculture course. Four of these specialize in agriculture in the sixth form in preparation for going to Massey College. One has the impression that this number would be much higher if a greater proportion of the pupils could be sure of a farm on family land.

Te Aute is half agricultural, half academic. When I asked Mr R. G. Webb, the headmaster, why he had chosen the agricultural course, he pointed out that right through New Zealand there was a crying need for colleges with good and complete agriculture courses and that Te Aute was fortunate in having all the necessary facilities: a 680 acre training farm such as few secondary schools could have, with a dairy herd, pigs, sheep and run cattle, and managers with a good practical and theoretical knowledge of farming. School ceritficate and advanced courses are given in agriculture and animal husbandry. Every week eight boys are given practical work on the farm, while the others continue ordinary school work. One night every week the agriculture instructor, Mr Miller,

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