Rural and Remote Education - Qld

Listen

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.