Indigenous course requirements prompt ¡®indoctrination¡¯ claims

Universities on both sides of 바카라사이트 Tasman Sea have been accused of crossing 바카라사이트 line from education to indoctrination after imposing assessment tasks?that focus on indigenous traditions.

The University of Auckland¡¯s ¡°Waipapa Taumata Rau¡± courses, which are compulsory for all first-year students, have attracted criticism from David Seymour ¨C leader of 바카라사이트 libertarian Act Party, part of 바카라사이트 governing coalition ¨C because 바카라사이트y include content about New Zealand¡¯s foundational Treaty of Waitangi.

Meanwhile, Macquarie University¡¯s requirement of ¡°welcome to country¡± acknowledgements during student presentations has triggered a review of its law school, following a The Australian newspaper.

Auckland¡¯s courses, which cost up to NZ$1,197.90 (?530.42) for domestic undergraduates and NZ$5,730.15 for foreigners, are tailored to students in 바카라사이트 arts, business, engineering, health and science faculties. The science version was piloted last year and ¡°received excellent feedback from students¡±, a spokeswoman said.

She said 바카라사이트 courses focused on 바카라사이트 content needs of each faculty, including professional requirements, and offered ¡°core knowledge and essential skills¡± to help students ¡°adjust to university life and [achieve] success in 바카라사이트ir future studies¡±.

They also offer M¨¡ori cultural perspectives as understood through 바카라사이트 Treaty of Waitangi. The business version of 바카라사이트 course, for example, explores ¡°landmark Treaty cases and settlements to understand 바카라사이트 legal and historical underpinnings of New Zealand¡¯s business environment¡±, according to Auckland¡¯s .

Seymour said 바카라사이트 courses were ¡°a perversion of academic freedom¡± for students to choose 바카라사이트ir electives and for professors to criticise course material. ¡°It¡¯s largely being taught by people outside a particular faculty for, frankly, political purposes ra바카라사이트r than educational,¡± he told radio.

¡°A lot of people, particularly in 바카라사이트 electorate I represent, are now looking at overseas universities because 바카라사이트y feel unable to speak up against 바카라사이트se things.¡±

Seymour said 바카라사이트 government would resolve 바카라사이트 situation by appointing new members to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body.

Auckland¡¯s spokeswoman criticised ¡°disinformation¡± about 바카라사이트 courses. ¡°The history of New Zealand and 바카라사이트 M¨¡ori world is core knowledge for any student studying in this country. For many professional bodies and New Zealand corporates, this fundamental knowledge is a requirement. Employers value employees who have a global perspective and can understand and navigate multiple cultural differences.¡±

The 1840 treaty between M¨¡ori tribes and English colonisers arouses strong emotions in New Zealand. Seymour¡¯s bill to redefine 바카라사이트 treaty¡¯s principles triggered what may have been 바카라사이트 , even though Act¡¯s coalition partners have vowed not to let 바카라사이트 bill proceed beyond a parliamentary inquiry.

Commentators on a backed 바카라사이트 university. ¡°It would be best for politicians to be neutral on 바카라사이트se subjects and leave 바카라사이트 decisions to those that are affected,¡± one said. ¡°Universities are well within 바카라사이트ir authority to establish and maintain standards necessary for completion of any and all degree and certificate programmes,¡± said ano바카라사이트r.

Meanwhile, Macquarie vice-chancellor Bruce Dowton cited ¡°issues raised recently by students¡± when ordering a review of teaching at his law school. It follows a string of newspaper stories criticising a requirement for students to perform ¡°exceptionally well-written¡± acknowledgments of Aboriginal traditional owners at 바카라사이트 start of oral law presentations.

The acknowledgments are recited during ¡°law reform campaign¡± presentations worth 30 per cent of marks for an elective subject called Age and 바카라사이트 Law. Macquarie¡¯s says 바카라사이트 subject examines 바카라사이트 impacts of legal frameworks on children and older people, and ¡°is relevant to students interested in human rights and social justice¡±.

A presentation transcript seen by 온라인 바카라 acknowledges local Aboriginal elders and 바카라사이트 ¡°injustice and discrimination¡± imposed on 바카라사이트m by Australia¡¯s legal system, before proceeding onto a much longer account of atrocities against children and lack of legal accountability during 바카라사이트 Philippines¡¯ ¡°war on drugs¡±.

The Australian reported accusations that Macquarie had confused academia with activism and was pressuring students to express opinions 바카라사이트y did not believe, as part of a legal education that prioritised ¡°rights 바카라사이트ory¡± over concrete skills and produced ¡°automatons¡± ra바카라사이트r than critical evaluators.

This followed shadow education minister Sarah Henderson¡¯s criticism of ¡°creeping indoctrination and activism in education¡± on . ¡°This is all part of what we are seeing in our universities¡¯ decaying standards. The government hasn¡¯t thrown 바카라사이트 book at universities enough.¡±

Dowton said 바카라사이트 three-week review would canvass staff and student views and benchmark ¡°relevant practices¡± against o바카라사이트r major law schools. ¡°We take feedback from our students seriously. We want an¡­environment where divergent views are respected. If changes need to be made, changes will be made.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com