ADVERTORIAL
So much of the talk regarding education is about what we learn, and yes, what we learn is important. Children need a firm grasp of reading, writing and mathematics.
But kids also need to learn context, to understand where they are and what events have led to now.
It can be as simple as walking the river that carved the valley or panning for gold with a local enthusiast.
It can be as fun as starting a hāngī fire or watching the stars rise on a crisp Matariki morning. To hear all of the stories that have flowed into this moment. Reading, writing and math are the tools we use to understand the world around us, and if we are brave, to change it.
At Pūriri School, our last term was full of learning in meaningful contexts – all wrapped up in community, making the most of our local resources, people and teachable moments.
Term two had us delving into our local history – what were the Thames and Pūriri Valleys like when only Tangata Whenua (the people of the land) were here? How did this change with the great gold rush Thames is so well known for?
We linked this learning with Matariki, the specific way it is celebrated in Hauraki and the local Pūrakau (narratives and worldviews) of our area. It would have been impossible without connection, without the wisdom and knowledge from those in our community.
Learning is about making connections, connections are what make the learning worthwhile. We take our learning to places that make it come to life. At Pūriri School, knowing our pepeha (introduction) and sharing it at school became real as our kids introduced themselves in the wharenui of Matai Whetū Marae.
Researching gold mining and the tools used in the Thames mines all those years ago became tangible when holding gold bearing quartz at the Thames Goldmine. Learning all the names of the Matariki cluster and what they represent became magical in the whispered discussions before dawn on a brisk July morning looking up at the starry sky.
The children shared with their whānau (families) what they had read, written and learnt about.
At Matariki we gathered around the hangi fire to warm up and bring in the day together, learning and celebrating as a community, making intergenerational connections with each other, from toddlers to retirees.
Whānau who go back generations in the area shared stories and traditions with our new families and friends.
You can teach a child all the facts and figures and frameworks, but how much richer is it to see the real gold that a local panner found in your river, to stand ankle deep in water and try it out yourself, the sparkling flecks sparking the motivation to learn more, to research more, to work out the maths, the weights, the prices, the percentages.
To be involved in the design of a new playground and see the project through from start to finish. To bring student ideas and concerns to the local council and having those ideas change and impact the local township.
As schools we can teach our next generation reading, writing and maths, but as a community we can help our schools unlock creativity, inspire passions, make learning unforgettable.
At Pūriri School we are so grateful to have a community surrounding us who are willing to help us make those connections with the wider world, whether it be down at Te Kura O Awa (River School) connecting with nature; in the classroom understanding the structures of learning; writing on the walls of a playground company that helped us make our vision come to life; at the local Marae singing Waiata and playing traditional games; or in the council chambers of TCDC, having ideas heard and implemented.
Everyone has something to offer, everyone has something to gain, kids can learn from adults, adults can learn from kids. Let’s make community integral to our learning spaces.
Mā mua ka rite a muri, Mā muri ka ora a mua. Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead.
