Te Reo Should be compulsory (FOR)

We agree that all schools in NZ should have Maori as a compulsory subject

Kay points

1. Te reo Maori is New Zealand’s Native language
2. It will benefit the next generations to come
3. Because Te reo Maori is an important part of NZ’s national identity

I think Te reo Maori should be a compulsory subject in all New Zealand schools because not only is it NZ’s native language but it is also an important part of Nz’s national identity. There are three official languages in NZ which are English, Maori, and sign language, but yet Te reo Maori and sign language aren't. Until mid-19th century, te reo maori was the predominant language spoken in Aotearoa/New Zealand. As more English arrived it was  increasingly confined to Maori communities. In the mid 20th century there were concerns that the Maori language was dying out until 1991 Te reo Maori became an official language of NZ. I know that the idea of Te reo Maori (the compulsory language), being made a compulsory subject in all schools in NZ is offensive to some people. However restricting tamariki (children) to only one world view limits their education and deprives them of the knowledge of Te reo Maori and all the riches of the Maori Culture, this would benefit the next generations to come. I’m not just supporting this so the Maori language survives, but thrives in Aotearoa. Doing this is one of the best ways to ensure the language survives, it would help encourage empathy among students, by showing an understanding of someone else’s culture and language, this is agreed on by many people.

Sources

• JULIAN LEE on Stuff.com

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/89223687/Compulsory-Te-Reo-Can-it-really-be-done   

Debate

We believe Maori language should be compulsory in schools. Actually We don't understand how people who inhabited a country first, spoke only their language and lived their culture are now fighting, and have been for a long time to keep their language alive. This seems to be a problem for a lot of the indigenous people of the world until the mid-19th century Te reo Maori was the predominant language spoken in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In 1985 the waitangi tribunal heard the Te reo Maori claim, it said Te reo Maori was a taonga (treasure) and the government was obliged to protect it under the treaty of waitangi.

Tribunal found in favour of the claimants and recommended a number of legislative and policy remedies. One of these was the Maori Language Act, which made Maori an official language of NZ along with English and sign language, but only English is compulsory.

Points to ponder

-October 22nd 2010. NZ’s largest education union says Te reo Maori should be compulsory in all schools to insure its kept alive.

-After the waitangi tribunal report calling for urgent action to stop the decline of Te reo the NZ educational institute said it was everyone's responsibility to ensure the language survived.

-Last week the Green Party announced that they would be pursuing a policy of compulsory Te reo language classes in schools.

-Welsh and Irish have success stories of increasing the amount of people speaking their language after making their language compulsory in their schools. In Ireland you cannot get a government service job without a level of Irish language. “INSTRUMENTAL MOTIVATION” means you need to do something that enables you to do something else.

This paragraph is if someone says it doesn't help in anyway or it's irrelevant.

-Maori is relevant, it helps the economy through the tourism. The number, variety and quality of Māori tourism businesses have increased dramatically over the last few years.

Sources: NZ history, NZ herald, NZ tourism, and stuff.com.