Wednesday was Waitangi Day, a national holiday commemorating the treaty signed at Waitangi on February 6, 1840, an agreement between the British Crown and Māori chiefs. It paved the way for British immigration to New Zealand and for a national government to be established. It also guaranteed Māori rights and privileges. According to the government’s web site: “New Zealand’s bicultural society is based on the treaty, which also gives the political system its legitimacy.” It seems, however, that politically, the Maori have become allied with the liberal politics and socialist economics of the country, and have used their position as native descendents to extract more privileges and benefits from the public treasury than may be appropriate or healthy. It seems that some may view them as freeloaders, as illustrated by these two jokes told to me by an anonymous student:
Q: What’s the fastest thing in New Zealand? A: A Maori with a Burger King coupon.
Q: What’s the second fastest thing in New Zealand? A: The white guy he stole it from.
In any case, the conference in “Palmy” was very well attended, with over 150 people, mostly homeschoolers, and a few teachers, it seems. I was happy to see a large number of fathers in attendance, which is probably due to it being a national holiday. My talks went from 9am to 9pm, with tea and lunch breaks, and it was a long day. One family I met there not only has relatives in Atascadero, but an adult daughter named Genevieve (who just got engaged)! Small world, eh? Dot was pleased to have sold a very good amount of IEW materials, and I was happy for her.
I know these conferences have been a blessing to many people. One email I received yesterday expressed one mom’s gratitude: “I've been looking at putting my daughter back in school because I was tired of competing with the invisible majority of kids who are chugging merrily along in state schools while we are trying to catch up with achieving at my child's grade level. Your seminar was VITAL in giving me hope to try again. Thank you so much! Even my husband was inspired and delighted that he attended today!
It's good to be appreciated.
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