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7.6 Elements of Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> Curriculum Content<br />

One of my most mov<strong>in</strong>g experiences dur<strong>in</strong>g this project <strong>in</strong>volved<br />

attend<strong>in</strong>g a pōwhiri led by a preschooler assisted by her teacher. This occurred<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g my first visit to a k<strong>in</strong>dergarten where I had arranged a meet<strong>in</strong>g with a<br />

prospective Advisory Committee Member. However, it is crucial that such tikanga<br />

do not become dial a pōwhiri (Mann<strong>in</strong>g, 1998). In Case Study Two and Case<br />

Study Three teachers <strong>in</strong>tegrated tikanga Māori with ceremonies led by a kaumātua<br />

to bless their new centre build<strong>in</strong>gs. In Case Study Two, follow<strong>in</strong>g the bless<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ceremony, relationships with whānau Māori developed over the follow<strong>in</strong>g 12<br />

months. Conversely, <strong>in</strong> Case Study Three, relocat<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>early</strong> childhood centre to<br />

another site disrupted the close relationship enjoyed by the kaumātua and the<br />

centre. Despite the kaumātua and his colleagues be<strong>in</strong>g still available to the<br />

teachers <strong>in</strong> Case Study Three, they chose <strong>in</strong>stead to rely upon one of their<br />

colleagues Shani for guidance (see chapter 5).<br />

There is, of course, the feel<strong>in</strong>g of the old chicken and egg question: Is it<br />

possible to develop Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> without whānau Māori and what will<br />

entice whānau Māori to centres where Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> is not visible?<br />

Māori, understandably, resist what is perceived as a dial a pōwhiri approach when<br />

centres call upon them to lead occasional events but fail to follow through with<br />

genu<strong>in</strong>e commitment (Mann<strong>in</strong>g, 1998). Every member of the Advisory Group for<br />

this study <strong>in</strong>dicated that they had experienced this k<strong>in</strong>d of <strong>in</strong>cident.<br />

If whānau Māori are not available, teachers want<strong>in</strong>g to implement Tiriti-<br />

<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> need to take risks. They also need to become <strong>in</strong>formed by<br />

literature, especially dur<strong>in</strong>g their teacher education courses and subsequent ongo<strong>in</strong>g<br />

professional development. Strategies suggested by participants and respondents <strong>in</strong><br />

this study (<strong>in</strong> tandem with materials sourced from national and <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

literature); have enabled me to suggest a range of approaches for implement<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>.<br />

These strategies provide ideas which enable <strong>early</strong> childhood teachers to<br />

weave unique Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> whāriki. Aga<strong>in</strong> it must be stressed that this requires<br />

teachers to display courage, belief <strong>in</strong>, and responsibility for Tiriti-<strong>based</strong><br />

programmes. Several strategies were unanimously proposed by authors from<br />

Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad. The first <strong>in</strong>volved build<strong>in</strong>g relationships and<br />

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