Euronesian Children Must

Attend Native Schools In

Cook Is.

Letter to the Editor rE English spoken in the schools of this island bears a close resemblance to the “coon dialect” of vaudeville minstrels.

All Mangaian children, native, half caste or white, must attend school. Thus, we have the paradox of a Euronesian child, who hears correct English at home, being compelled, at the school, to mis pronounce words, elide “r’s” and certain other letters, and talk like a negro, for the reason that the teachers (natives) have adopted this debased style!

Examples are: “Wash yo’ hands."

“Shut yo’ eyes.” “The childun come to school at ha’-pas’-seven.”

Then again, such words as “buy” and “sell” are interchanged in meaning.

These are but a few of the faults. The main error is that there is not, and never has been, a European to teach the teachers!

The inculcation of good “style” (which means also good taste) has been long neglected. Native taste is execrable be cause it is totally unguided.

Although there have been Resident Agents who were also certificated NZ teachers, I have never seen any such offi cial take any real personal interest in the Central School. The work was left to underlings.

Meanwhile, my child goes to school to learn the lovely language of Uncle Rastus, Stepin Fetchit, and Messrs.

Moran and Mack.

I am, etc.,

Edwin Gold.

Mangaia, C. 1., January, 1946.