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children. As mentioned before, Heta-Lensen (2005) noted that centres <strong>in</strong> which<br />

there were few Māori children were less likely to demonstrate te reo Māori and<br />

Māori values.<br />

Pasifika language nests, Montessori, Ste<strong>in</strong>er, Christian-<strong>based</strong> and parent-<br />

led centres as well as playgroups and Playcentre may also warrant further<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestigation apropos the <strong>in</strong>troduction of Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> pedagogy. The special<br />

character of such centres may, for <strong>in</strong>stance, demonstrate entirely alternative<br />

emphases that may conflict with Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>. Such research could<br />

unearth ways <strong>in</strong> which they could reta<strong>in</strong> their special focus whilst also<br />

implement<strong>in</strong>g Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>.<br />

In this project each teacher showed commitment to Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong><br />

despite differences <strong>in</strong> experience and practice. They wanted it to work. However,<br />

there cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be <strong>early</strong> childhood teachers who advocate for multiculturalism<br />

rather than biculturalism, and parents who resist Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> for their<br />

child/children. Under such circumstances, teachers may struggle to be effective<br />

with Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>. F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g a way forward for these groups would be<br />

worth <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Because knowledge and skills <strong>in</strong> Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> underp<strong>in</strong>s<br />

implementation, it is crucial that research be cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong>to how <strong>early</strong> childhood<br />

teachers can effectively grow their te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. Although Kane<br />

(2005) exam<strong>in</strong>ed policies and practices <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>itial teacher education programmes<br />

(<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those which were Tiriti-<strong>based</strong>), only one study has exam<strong>in</strong>ed teacher<br />

education <strong>in</strong> depth and with only one provider (Ritchie, 2002b). It therefore<br />

becomes necessary to consider how teacher education programmes can best<br />

provide foundation education <strong>in</strong> Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> knowledge and ensure that students<br />

atta<strong>in</strong> requisite skills.<br />

F<strong>in</strong>ally, it is important to trial and expand the methodology and theory of<br />

action development by employ<strong>in</strong>g it <strong>in</strong> further research projects. Indeed there is no<br />

reason to restrict action development to <strong>early</strong> childhood education as it may well be<br />

equally effective <strong>in</strong> numerous different sett<strong>in</strong>gs and research projects.<br />

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