Teaching from the margins: Navigating critical approaches to text, identity and biculturalism through the lived experiences of Māori

Liana Catherine MacDonald (Liana Catherine MacDonald), Victoria University of Education

My research focuses squarely on a Māori perspective of the mainstream education system and is concerned with teachers' pedagogical practices and understandings of how to implement the English curriculum through the teaching of text.  The study also highlights the significant challenges of operating in such an environment too.

I hope that writing about my participants’ experiences will open the door to further conversations in education about Māori expressions of tino rangatiratanga in a mainstream schooling context.  Tino rangatiratanga is manifest in a number of ways and as such, highlights the legitimacy of many Māori world views.  I hope that the study contributes to positive social and transformation for all Māori communities in education, and ultimately provides taiohi Māori a better opportunity to flourish in their schooling environment.