New Zealand-Born Polynesians and the Legacy of Academic Disadvantage

I am a firm believer in the adage that all children are endowed with the same potential to acquire knowledge, given the right opportunity and resources to access that knowledge. New Zealand-born, working class, Samoan students from bilingual, traditional Samoan homes do not, as a rule, have ready access, at home, to the kinds of resources and opportunities that would prepare them for the highly competitive academic environments of high school and university . This book takes a critical look at teaching practices which disadvantage New Zealand-born Polynesian students through the experiences of a group of Samoan students. The impact of traditional Samoan communicative and cultural practices in the home, on the academic performance and achievement levels of New Zealand-born Samoan students at high school and university are also scrutinised closely in this work. The reading audience targeted by this book is a mix of teachers, educators, researchers, policy makers parents of students from working class, minority communities, who will appreciate the importance of a sound education for all students regardless of social class, cultural background and race.