School and society in Tonga, 1826-1854 : a study of Wesleyan mission schools with special emphasis upon curriculum content and its influence on political and social development

Abstract

This study aims at examining the curricula in Wesleyan schools in Tonga during the period 1826 to 1854 in order to assess their and social development. The theme suggested itself because previous accounts which have discussed education in Tonga have emphasized methods and organization to the neglect of curriculum content. No attemp~ has yet been made to examine the curriculum, evaluate the degree to which it was understood, and analyse its influence on Tongan society. The substantial. body of vernacular source material, comprising numerous school texts, extracts from the and a variety has not been evaluated. --'= V.l.. miscellaneous publications; This vernacular material, providing specific detail of what was actually taught in the schools, for111s a major source for this -st·udy