Launch of History Book

5 December 2006

ESOL Home Tutors publish history book

Settlement through English: a history of ESOL Home Tutors was launched by Tertiary Education Minister Dr Michael Cullen at ESOL Home Tutors national office in early December.

We chose International Volunteer Day (5 December) for the launch because our service relies so heavily on volunteers. The history book draws largely on oral history interviews done with tutors, learners, staff, board members and others connected with the association.

Facts and figures came from newsletters, annual reports and other historic documents. Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres wrote the book's foreword. He told about his own experience as one of seven children in a family that came from the Netherlands in the 1950s. His father was often away from home on business, so Joris wrote that his mother 'could have done with an ESOL home tutor'.

Gillian Skyrme's involvement with ESOL Home Tutors goes back to 1981, and she was one of 30 people interviewed for the book. She has been a tutor and a coordinator and is currently a member of the Palmerston North scheme committee.

When asked about the value of the history project as a whole, Gillian said, "It contributes to the historical record of the country. 'If history is important, then such histories are important."

Copies of the book will be distributed to schemes and selected public libraries around New Zealand.