Attribute 3: Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi by integrating its principles into their teaching practice
While studying in the University of Waikato, Te Tiriti o Waitangi formed an integral part of my studies, particularly in the area of Law. I completed two papers that had a significant focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Law and Societies and Public Law A. These papers covered the distinctive place the Treaty has within society and our legal frameworks. It was through these studies that I was introduced not only to the text of the Treaty itself, but also the concept of Treaty principles (ngā mātāpono o te tiriti). Hayward (2008) provides a summary of these principles, including one that particularly integrates within my teaching practice, being the principle that the treaty sets up a partnership, and the partners have a duty to act reasonably and in good faith.
As the majority of my career to-date has been outside of New Zealand, I have not had much experience in education with Maori students, however the principle of partnership is one that I have brought forward into my own teaching practice abroad. When first introduced to this Treaty principle in university, the concept of partnership has stuck with me. I see relationships between teachers and students as a partnership, one that comes with obligations to act in good faith and in each other's interests. Some example of how this partnership works in the classroom include:
Furthermore as a New Zealander abroad, I believe I have a responsibility to be a positive ambassador for all New Zealand culture, including the partnership between Maori and the Crown, looking for opportunities to share Maori taonga with my students, such as basic Te reo Māori to show students where I come from.
As the majority of my career to-date has been outside of New Zealand, I have not had much experience in education with Maori students, however the principle of partnership is one that I have brought forward into my own teaching practice abroad. When first introduced to this Treaty principle in university, the concept of partnership has stuck with me. I see relationships between teachers and students as a partnership, one that comes with obligations to act in good faith and in each other's interests. Some example of how this partnership works in the classroom include:
- Clarifying expectations. In each learning situation I look to clarify expectations, not only my expectations towards students but also their expectations towards me. The most common form this takes is through the establishment of ground rules that apply equally to students and myself as a teacher.
- Unlocking the collective wisdom in the room: As an educator I believe students co-create a learning environment with me, and they have knowledge to bring that will enrich the learning experience for themselves, their fellow students and myself as an Educator. The phrase "unlocking the collective wisdom in the room" is one I use frequently in the classrooms I work in. This is closely aligned with one of the guiding principles of Ka Hikitia - the Ministry of Education's Māori Education Strategy which has as a guiding principle Ako which "is a dynamic form of learning where the educator and the student learn from each other in an interactive way". I learn from my students, my students learn from me, and my students learn as a collective.
Furthermore as a New Zealander abroad, I believe I have a responsibility to be a positive ambassador for all New Zealand culture, including the partnership between Maori and the Crown, looking for opportunities to share Maori taonga with my students, such as basic Te reo Māori to show students where I come from.