Phoenix NZYP

Music:

Member Since: 7/11/2006
Band Website: www.higherlearning.co.nz
Band Members: The People
Influences: The seed of Higher Learning started back in 1993 after I left Avondale College to join a group called Y-One. I realised at that point that mainstream education had failed to provide me with the right tools for life I was often labelled as ' stupid', 'dumb', would never amount to anything etc by teachers who were not only unprofessional, but useless. They couldn't see the diamond in the rough! I was tired of the stereotypes that Polynesians were only good at sport and that we lacked the concentration and capacity to achieve well academically.At that point the decision to go to University became the best option! With little academic success I applied for teachers college at Waikato University and was blessed to get in. The fear of failure never crossed my mind at that point because I knew that I had to do something to change the future of the next generation by being a teacher of understanding and insight. When our kids talk about the street I know what they are saying, when they share their frustrations of education I connect to their stories and when they get hurt by people putting them down for making a stand I too feel that pain.Some educationalists are either out dated or riddled with institutionalised racism across cultures - the one size fits all isn't the answer to the problems of educational failures and barriers to learning. Through the performing arts I work out a system that helps to provide a positive environment that is both conducive to learning and contextualized. I have found Higher Learning to be the most enjoyable and life changing experience spiritually inand emotionally. To see the personal victories and developments of dividuals, teams and families is a testament to the success of our program.Our 4 main kaupapa of No drugs, No suicide, No passengers, No racism paints the picture of a group of people making a stand in a dysfunctional society that has missed the boat. If we as a community don't stand up and speak then there will continue to be drunk drivers on our roads, young people taking their lives and division among races. Higher Learning is a vehicle for assisting to develop those essential skills for life, such as, effective communication, time management, personal confidence. Higher Learning is part of the solution, not the problem! By supporting us you make a stand for the generation here and the generations to come!
Record Label: Currently assigned