Dr. Rangimarie Turuki Rose Pere, C.B.E CM

It is now just over a year since Rose Pere left us. An extraordinary human being, a true treasure for all. No one in her presence would of doubted their value. Her passion and belief in humankind had no bounds. Rose Pere is deeply missed, however her spiritual presence remains with us for all time. E hoa, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Kia au tō moe Rose.

   “Children are our greatest legacy.

     Nature is our greatest teacher”

    Dr. Rangimarie Turuki Rose Pere

Dr Rangimarie  Turuki Arikirangi Rose Pere was an International Educationalist who travelled globally, and knows about education from early childhood through to the Tertiary Level and beyond. She came from both a traditional Māori perspective and that of the Western world.

Her monograph on the traditional modes of learning of the Māori, “Te Wheke-The Celebration Of Infinite Wisdom”, is used in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, Japan, and has been translated into Japanese and German.

Her monograph is used as a training model of education by all Government agencies in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rose has been strongly influenced by teachings that go back over 12,000 years. Her book Te Wheke – A Celebration Of Infinite Wisdom, is an introduction to these teachings.

When she died Te Aorewa Rolleston, a reporter for Radio NZ wrote about her.

Dr Rangimarie Turuki Arikirangi Rose Pere, of Tūhoe, Ngāti Ruapani and Ngāti Kahungunu, passed away on Sunday night surrounded by whānau at the age of 83.Dr Rose Pere, also known by many as Whaea Rose, was renowned for her spiritual teachings and ancient wisdom within academia.

The outpour of comments online and from those who knew her best, said her work inspired generations and she leaves behind an everlasting legacy.

Associate Professor Dr Leonie Pihama, who worked closely with her, said the publications Ako and Te Wheke, written by Dr Rose Pere were significant.

"Her work has always resonated, it's deeply informed much of the work I've done."

"There are lots of layers in terms of connection to the work that Whaea Rose has always done and that she has generously and openly shared with our people."

Dr Pihama said Whaea Rose left behind a multi-layered legacy.

"I was very honoured to have Whaea Rose do a huge amount of mahi with us in terms of the kaupapa that we have been following around healing, around well-being, around mana wahine, kaupapa Māori - all of those areas that she embodied."

Dr Rose Pere was born in Ruatahuna and grew up in Waikaremoana.

Since birth, she was a leader and was thought to have carried the knowledge of a tohuna or wisdom keeper and during her life, she was a renowned teacher to all.

She worked within education across all age groups from pre-school to tertiary level, focusing on building the strength and identity of indigenous learners.

She strived to make sure the next generations were not overcome by a colonial education system, and instead honored their culture.

In a statement, her whānau said she was loved across Aotearoa and the globe.

"Her life was distinguished by extraordinary service to many people in both Aotearoa, New Zealand and the many corners of the world. She touched many lives and hearts."

Dr Rose Pere will be taken to Whakirangi marae and Iwitea marae over the coming days before being taken to her final resting place at Rongopai Marae, just outside of Gisborne.

Sir Ken Robinson was a beacon of hope for all who believe in the power of playful education

 

 

The death of Sir Ken Robinson on 21^st August 2020 was a devasting loss to the global education community. He was an extraordinary educationalist whose commitment and passion for being responsive to each child, and for recognising what he called ‘their element’, was so in tune with our own Early Childhood Education curriculum, Te Whāriki. He encouraged all of us to be attuned to the child, their spirit, and their passion.  Sir Ken Robinson, like those who developed Te Whāriki, had a vision of what education should look like. He challenged so much of the educational past that many of us have experienced. His work was and is transformational for both teachers, children and families alike.

 

He drove an educational revolution that challenged the industrial models of education that are still pervasive across our educational systems: the models that do not put children at the heart of education but rather systematize  everything in the interests of accountability rather than education. It is the standardization of outcomes, testing, and goals that move teachers away from the heart of teaching, stifling the critical notions such as the importance of being in relationship with children.

 

His talk  ‘Do schools kill creativity’, is he most watched TED talk of all time. It has had more than 66 million views….. what follows is a little excerpt from this talk…

 

“Our education system is predicated on the idea of academic ability. And there's a reason. Around the world, there were no public systems of education, really, before the 19th century. They all came into being to meet the needs of industrialism. So the hierarchy is rooted on two ideas.

 

Number one, that the most useful subjects for work are at the top. So you were probably steered benignly away from things at school when you were a kid, things you liked, on the grounds you would never get a job doing that. Is that right? "Don't do music, you're not going to be a musician; don't do art, you won't be an artist." Benign advice -- now, profoundly mistaken. The whole world is engulfed in a revolution.

 

And the second is academic ability, which has really come to dominate our view of intelligence, because the universities design the system in their image. If you think of it, the whole system of public education around the world is a protracted process of university entrance. And the consequence is that many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think they’re not, because the thing they were good at at school wasn’t valued, or was actually stigmatized. And I think we can’t afford to go on that way.”

 

For those who have not read the work of Sir Ken Robinson, now is the time to explore this work. Here is a list of this books… You will not regret picking up these books:The Element; Out of our Minds; Creative Schools and You, Your Child, and School.

 

There are also many opportunities to listen to Sir Ken Robinson … a google of his name will bring up over 16 million links…. Start with his TED talks...

Sir Ken Robinson died on the 21^st August surrounding by his family after a short battle with cancer. For many of us, we were shocked to learn of his death. I know he has inspired me through his deep commitment to children across the globe, delivering his powerful messages with such an uplifting and witty delivery, always leaving me with a feeling of incredible hope and possibility. He will not be forgotten.

 Aroha mai, Wendy Lee

 

A message from Kazakhstan

It was so lovely to hear from Altyngul Taibassarova. Altyngul lives in Astana, now Nur-Sultan the capital of Kazakhstan. She is currently involved in establishing a new kindergarten 'Abadan Kindergarten and Family Centre' which will have three languages of instruction (Kazakh, Russian and English). 

She writes "It is very challenging time for the whole World. It is difficult not to see your friends, colleagues, notable to go out whenever and wherever you want. However, working from home has taught me to be even more caring, loving and patient. I spent a lot of time with my family and I loved it. Seems like the Earth gave this chance to everybody to reflect on their lives. COVID_19 has also brought very quick transition into digitalization. All that seemed far and not real, now is possible. We have learnt to adapt quickly. And that is very good".