From 1981 – 2004 we worked with the UMM (United Maori Mission) in Kaikohe and for most of the time I was the chairperson of the Mid North Bible in Schools Regional Committee.  I did not only teach Religious Instruction (RE) in  many schools, but I visited all the schools in  the Kaikohe area and beyond before Christmas and before Easter to give out the special leaflets from the Bible Society . The Bible Society is printing special Easter leaflets and Christmas leaflets for the children. (In cooporation with the Churches Education Commission-CEC.)

You can imagine, that I have seen many schools during that time.

The other day I went to see the catholic school here in Kaitaia and I was surprised to be greeted with the following words written in big letters: MERCY-INTERGRITY- LOVE-TRUTH. Something like that has never happened before , so far as I can remember.

All those words are of course mentioned in the Bible, and when the children are playing on the playground they can see the words MERCY, INTEGRITY, LOVE and TRUTH.

The children going to that school will never forget those words. They will go with them wherever they go.

I am wondering if there is bullying going on in that school?