"Astrology is alive and well in some New Zealand classrooms"

"Astrology is alive and well in some New Zealand classrooms thanks to the Education Ministry’s push to give indigenous knowledge equal standing with scientific knowledge. ... [These include] an array of online resources intended to enlighten teachers and students on the wonders of the Māori Lunar Calendar, or Maramataka [,which suggesting that a particular phase of the Moon can influence human behaviour, health, horticulture or the weather.]

"Unfortunately, most of these resources are woefully uncritical and fail to mention that there is very little science [in] support ...

"[Teachers] fear ... being branded racist or anti-Māori [for bing opposed], but just because something is part of Māori culture should not render it immune from criticism. ...

"[Other] teachers are now consulting the Calendar to plan their lessons around ‘high’ and ‘low’ energy days to determine which phases of the Moon are best to conduct assessments, carry out sporting activities, and even when to go on trips. Some teachers have even taken to scheduling meetings on days deemed less likely to trigger conflict, all under the moniker of ‘ancient Māori wisdom.’ Indoctrination is also starting early.

"In the Far North a group of ECE teachers have been giving lessons on the waxing and waning ‘energy levels’ of the Moon to over 10 early childhood centres. ...

"It is time to get government-sponsored pseudoscience out of our schools and health system. It begins by having the courage to call a spade a spade. If supporters of Māori knowledge want parity with science, then it needs to be subjected to the same rigorous standards that other forms of knowledge undergo. ...

"If people want to teach this ‘folklore’ as a cultural belief – that’s fine, but don’t teach it as a reality and leave out the scientific perspective. That’s educational malpractice and indoctrination."

~ Robert Bartholomew from his post 'The Māori Astrology Craze – Stop Teaching Pseudoscience to Our Kids'