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 classSamoan students from bilingualtraditional Samoan homes do not as a rule have ready access at hometo 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 homeon 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.