Rural and Remote Education - Qld
Rural
and Remote Education - Weipa
Notes of a meeting with students
from Peace Lutheran College, Qld - 8 July 1999
The students formed
into groups and each was asked to describe, evaluate and make suggestions
for change regarding one of the following topics
- School building
and grounds
- Sports and other
activities
- Students
- Boarders
- Subjects
School building
and grounds
The school grounds
comprise "a big sports oval, a playground, a tennis court, a basketball
court, an art room, a home economics room, a science block, an ESL room,
a music room, a drama room and a gym."
The students say
they need "a swimming pool, a dancing room, more Aboriginal teachers".
"our own swimming pool and a football field".
Sports and other
activities
The students can
participate in "music, art, drama, HPE, M& L and debating". "Swimming
affects us because we have to travel to the local swimming pool . travelling
to other places we get sick."
Students
Peace Lutheran College
is a school that has kindergarten to Year 12 students. There are approximately
300 primary and about 300 secondary. There are about 60 boarders. There
are currently no students with a disability but there was one in 1998.
Tension can flare
up between the students. "Sometimes trouble can affect us; teasing about
our skin colour." "We don't report it to the teachers." "Sometimes we
get into fights because of name calling." "There is also a bit of jealousy
between boarders and day students."
"We have cross-cultural
training so that the students can learn to get to know each other properly
and respect other cultures."
Boarders
"There are boarding
facilities." "We [boarders] have church services, house parents, rooms
provided for study." "We have activities on non-exit weekends." "We study
five days from 6 to 8pm."
Boarders, who are
predominantly Aboriginal students, say they sometimes experience negative
feelings."[I] feel down." "[I] don't wanna participate . [and] feel not
needed at school [and that I'm] missing out on things at home and families.
The boarders say
their situation could be improved with "more visits to and from home".
They think that "teachers should be more understanding and fair". Some
would like "more socialising with white kids".
Subjects
"The most important
subject I would like to do is art because it is fun." "The subject I would
like to do this term is English and Social Education because you could
learn more." "The subjects that I don't like doing are Science and Movement
and Leisure . they should change it to not be compulsory."
Last
updated 2 December 2001.