Rural and Remote Education - Qld
Rural
and Remote Education - Weipa
Notes of a meeting with secondary
students from Coonamble High School, NSW - 8 July 1999
Coonamble High School
students covered three broad topics and considered the same two questions
within each
- The high school:
'good things we don't want to lose' and 'the main things that need to
be improved or changed'.
- The town and its
people: 'good things we don't want to lose' and 'the main things that
need to be improved or changed'.
- Our options after
leaving school: 'good things we don't want to lose' and 'the main things
that need to be improved or changed'.
The high school:
good things
The quality of the
education which is high thanks to the subjects available and the teachers
(a couple of teachers were particularly singled out); there is a wide
range of sporting equipment (although students also said they need new
equipment); fun classes like dance and drama; the opportunity to visit
other towns and areas.
The high school
needing improvements and some suggestions
Students' attitudes
were described as too cheeky, making smart comments and they don't get
along with each other. "They need to keep the bad kids under control."
One student suggested that stricter discipline would help; another that
students should talk more together and work better together.
Books and a larger
library. The school library is deficient, run-down, with old books but
there is a good public library in Coonamble. Few students use the public
library.
Classrooms require
better quality air-conditioners and heating and also blinds or curtains.
They are very hot in summer and cold in winter. It's hard to concentrate.
Without blinds the sun comes in on people's eyes. There is also a need
for water bubblers in the school. The toilets need to be cleaned and maintained
better and soap should be provided. The canteen should provide better
food.
The students called
for more activities including discos at cheaper prices. And there was
also a suggestion that the uniform should be updated.
The town and its
people: good things
CDEP (Community Development
Employment Program for Indigenous people); clothes shops; the youth and
community centre; the hospital and doctors; the nursing home that looks
after older people; the great public library; our schools and teachers;
the range of sporting facilities such as ovals, netball courts and swimming
pool; the great range of supermarkets and the take-away shops and petrol
station; the child care centre for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
children; the radio station which teaches both younger and older people
how to use the facilities provided (although it could do with more Aboriginal
content).
The town and its
people: things to be improved
"Coonamble needs
to improve more activities for the children because there is nothing to
do but sit on the streets. They need more entertainment (eg movies and
concerts)." The youth centre is too small and "is only open when they
feel like it". "It used to be open only from 9-5, closed on weekends and
closed at night, which isn't very useful for the kids."
"They need better
clothes shops and more shopping centres. Also a McDonald's, Red Rooster
or KFC." One student noted, however, that "there's not enough people to
keep them going".
"We need our own
basketball and sporting centre with gyms and a heated pool."
Options for the
future: good things
Current options within
Coonamble for school leavers include CDEP and the Aboriginal Land Council.
There are few apprenticeship opportunities.
Options for the
future: things to be improved
While the CDEP program
was appreciated there is a need for further skills-based training. Vocational
education should be extended to 10-15 year olds (at 16 many have already
left school and those remaining may be too old to benefit fully).
There is also a need
for job creation in the town and educated Indigenous people in the community.
"We need more jobs by improving the town." If there were more shops there
would be more jobs. The shops should hire Aboriginal people. "Give every
single person a good chance of getting a job so they don't get driven
out of Coonamble as a consequence of not having a job."
"We need a uni closer
to Coonamble - eg at Dubbo."
Last
updated 2 December 2001.