Kate Keddell: Queens High school board chair on the number of schools reiterating their commitment to the Treaty

A growing number of school boards are making public statements confirming their commitment to the Treaty after the Government announced it would cut the requirements.

Previously, the Education Act said schools must ensure their plans, policies, and local curriculum reflect tikanga Māori, but the Government's looking to change it.

Queens High school board chair Kate Keddell says schools have been weaving in Te Tiriti obligations into curriculums and the standards won't impact students.

"We're just continuing on with the focus that we've been asked to do in the last few years...we are weaving it into our strategies." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bryan Bridge.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
More than two hundred schools have reaffirmed their commitment to
the Treaty of White Tangy t Tidity or White Tangy.
This is after the government removed the requirement for school
boards to uphold it. Christopher lux And spoke about it
with Hosking on ZB this morning. It's just the wrong
conversation to be having.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
That's what parents should be pushing those boards damn hard
on because I'm assuming then they've got outstanding academic achievement,
outstanding attendance records.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
That is what they have to be focused on. Now.
Kate Kettle is the Queen's High School board chair. They've
reaffirmed their commitment. Joins me now, Kate, good evening.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
How are you Ryan?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Very well? Thank you Kate. What is that reaffirming your
commitment to the treaty? What does that change for a student?

Speaker 1 (00:42):
What does it change for a student? Well, it doesn't
actually change a lot because for a long time now,
schools have been building and weaving into treaty and all
the principles of divers inclosure that entails into our curriculum
in our way of being at our schools.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
But the Ministry sets the curriculum.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
No, oh, the minister, Yes they do.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
What are changing? What are you changing?

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, we're not. Actually, my point is we're not actually
changing anything. We're just continuing on with the focus that
we've been asked to do in the last few years.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Which, yeah, honoring the treaty, but not actually doing anything,
just honoring, just saying you're honor it, but not changing anything.
Is that right?

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Well, the point being that we when we're honoring it,
we are weaving that into our strategies that schools are
supposed to do. It's not just about necessarily offering classes
in todayo or having Copper Harker groups. It's about offering
a teaching our education uses our people of tomorrow about

(02:01):
how to have a worldview that's our understanding of different cultures, so.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
Not just Malri culture, Indian culture too. Well.

Speaker 1 (02:12):
The thing is that when you are given the perspective
of any culture that is different from yours, or any
different worldview, it teaches you the skills of having an
open mind, of being able to appreciate how other people
look at things. You can become more understanding, more responsive.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Okay, this is all good stuff. I totally appreciate that
and We need that in our schools because students need
to be well rounded. But how does you reaffirming a
commitment to a to honor a treaty that you do
not do anything practical with. How has that been I
just don't understand. Can you not do that without honoring

(02:51):
the treaty and reaffirming your commitment to it.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
I think the point is that we're at and to
tell focus fully on academic outcomes and attendance is not
providing our students with a holistic approach to education. It's
not empowering every type of lunar. We are actually actively

(03:20):
in the decisions our schools make, for example, and setting
our values, which sets our strategic goals, which underpins how
our schools approach the curriculum. That's the way in which
we honor to TVT and the principles that follow from there.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Okay, just curious your school? What's your attendance record and
your achievement record? Bike?

Speaker 1 (03:42):
They are definitely on par with other schools around our region.
Is a good thing national? Yeah, we're proud of our results.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
What are the results?

Speaker 1 (03:54):
Off the top of my head, I don't know that
is something that we monitor from board meeting to board
meeting and I don't have those to hand. I'm afraid heatee.

Speaker 2 (04:04):
Appreciate your time. Kate Keittle, who's the Queen's High School
board chair, reaffirming their commitment to the treaty. For more
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