title: “We wanted to see if you were the real deal”: Teaching as a cultural practice in a challenging environment

authors: Lemon, Katrina Suezanne

abstract: Teaching can be viewed as a cultural practice in which teaching is embedded in the culture of the teacher and informed by the culture of the students (Bell, 2011). In this paper, a narrative is presented detailing an authentic example of teaching in New Zealand in which culture is prioritised. It describes the challenges faced by a young female teacher as she worked in a low decile secondary school with male students, the majority of whom were involved in the Mongrel Mob[1] gang. Her approach and responses were centred in her belief in culturally responsive teaching. The deliberate actions of the teacher led to a turning point for the students, allowing their mana to remain intact as she acknowledged their identity, language and culture. This teacher’s experience provides an example of how a teacher can enable learners in diverse classrooms to succeed in their learning.

text: “We wanted to see if you were the real deal”: Teaching as a cultural practice in a challenging environment Teaching can be viewed as a cultural practice in which teaching is embedded in the culture of the teacher and informed by the culture of the students (Bell, 2011). In this paper, a narrative is presented detailing an authentic example of teaching in New Zealand in which culture is prioritised. It describes the challenges faced by a young female teacher as she worked in a low decile secondary school with male students, the majority of whom were involved in the Mongrel Mob[1] gang. Her approach and responses were centred in her belief in culturally responsive teaching. The deliberate actions of the teacher led to a turning point for the students, allowing their mana to remain intact as she acknowledged their identity, language and culture. This teacher’s experience provides an example of how a teacher can enable learners in diverse classrooms to succeed in their learning.

year: 2017

title: Insanity and ethnicity in New Zealand: Māori encounters with the Auckland Mental Hospital, 1860—1900

authors: Barry, Lorelle

subjects: cultural alienation

abstract: This article examines Māori patients at the Auckland Mental Hospital between 1860 and 1900. We argue that the patient case notes reveal ‘European’ categories in which Māori were situated, and demonstrate the extent to which the authorities at the hospital grappled with their appearance, their language and their culture, all of which were elements of their ethnicity. We argue that the use of institutional case records is highly suggestive of some of the historical meanings of insanity for Māori, including the lack of detailed or sustained collection of information about patients’ tribal affiliations, the interest shown in their rights to land in maintenance payment inquiries, the experiences of cultural alienation or mate Māori, and the sad outcomes for Māori.

text: Insanity and ethnicity in New Zealand: Māori encounters with the Auckland Mental Hospital, 1860—1900 This article examines Māori patients at the Auckland Mental Hospital between 1860 and 1900. We argue that the patient case notes reveal ‘European’ categories in which Māori were situated, and demonstrate the extent to which the authorities at the hospital grappled with their appearance, their language and their culture, all of which were elements of their ethnicity. We argue that the use of institutional case records is highly suggestive of some of the historical meanings of insanity for Māori, including the lack of detailed or sustained collection of information about patients’ tribal affiliations, the interest shown in their rights to land in maintenance payment inquiries, the experiences of cultural alienation or mate Māori, and the sad outcomes for Māori.

year: 2011

title: Charles Gallagher; an investor in mining

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Charles Gallagher, born in Ireland, for a time prospered when working on American silver mining fields. After arriving in New Zealand in 1883 with his Irish wife and young children, he settled at Thames, where for a while he was a publican and invested in mining as well as doing some prospecting. As so often, he was involved in arguments over the ownership of a silver-bearing claim.
In 1884, the family settled at Te Aroha, where he erected two houses, expensively furnished. Once again, he prospected for silver, unsuccessfully, wasting considerable sums on this endeavour. His financial state was secure until, when he was ill, he settled his money on his wife, and afterwards was angered when she refused to return it because of his ‘intemperate’ habits. The consequence was that while she was in comfortable circumstances, even able to share the ownership of a steamer, he would die penniless.
His private life was increasingly unhappy, marked by heavy drinking and violence against others, especially his wife. He was pathologically jealous of his long-suffering but faithful wife, with tragic consequences on Christmas Day, 1890.

text: Charles Gallagher; an investor in mining Charles Gallagher, born in Ireland, for a time prospered when working on American silver mining fields. After arriving in New Zealand in 1883 with his Irish wife and young children, he settled at Thames, where for a while he was a publican and invested in mining as well as doing some prospecting. As so often, he was involved in arguments over the ownership of a silver-bearing claim.
In 1884, the family settled at Te Aroha, where he erected two houses, expensively furnished. Once again, he prospected for silver, unsuccessfully, wasting considerable sums on this endeavour. His financial state was secure until, when he was ill, he settled his money on his wife, and afterwards was angered when she refused to return it because of his ‘intemperate’ habits. The consequence was that while she was in comfortable circumstances, even able to share the ownership of a steamer, he would die penniless.
His private life was increasingly unhappy, marked by heavy drinking and violence against others, especially his wife. He was pathologically jealous of his long-suffering but faithful wife, with tragic consequences on Christmas Day, 1890.

year: 2016