Native schools

Article summary

Native schools or Māori schools in New Zealand were established to provide education for Māori children. The first schools for Māori were established by the Anglican Church Missionary Society (CMS) in the Bay of Islands starting in 1816. Catholic priests and brothers established schools for Māori throughout the country, including Hato Paora College (Feilding) and Hato Petera College (Auckland). St Joseph's Māori Girls' College (Taradale) was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. The Native Schools Act 1867 established a national system of village primary schools under the control of the Native Department. Instruction was to be conducted in English where practical. Under the Act, it was the responsibility of Māori communities to request a school for their children, form a school committee, supply land for the school and, until 1871, pay for half of the building costs and a quarter of the teacher's salary. Many communities were keen for their children to learn English as a second language and by 1879 there were 57 native schools. In 1880 the first inspector of native schools was appointed and a Native Schools Code was issued that prescribed a curriculum, established qualifications for teachers, and standardised operation for the Māori schools.

Key claims

1. date of establishment: 1816 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of establishment: 1854 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of establishment: 1867 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of establishment: 1875 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of establishment: 1928 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. date of foundation: 1814 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of establishment is "1816". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of establishment is "1854". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of establishment is "1867". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of establishment is "1875". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of establishment is "1928". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the date of foundation is "1814". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
9. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1323147268