ipl-logo

Aboriginal Students In Urban Classroom Analysis

922 Words4 Pages

The article “Why is Life So Hard for Aboriginal Students in Urban Classrooms?” written by Merridy Malin, is about the school experience of three Aboriginal children in a pre-primary classroom. It is based on the three students as Malin believes their experiences would be similar to the experiences of a lot of Aboriginal children in other classrooms around Australia (1994). The article begins by describing the difference in treatment the Aboriginal children received from the teacher, compared to the treatment the non-Indigenous children received from the same teacher. The lack of positive relationships the three Aboriginal children had with the teacher lead to the children becoming socially and academically marginalized, as the non-Indigenous …show more content…

In most situations, there is a cultural difference in the social and cultural norms (such as personal values and appropriate ways of communication) between the teacher and the Aboriginal children in the class. Malin believes that many teachers have subconsciously developed low expectations of the social and academic potential of Aboriginal children, which can cause a severe lack of positive relationships between the teacher and children (1994). The main point or message that I took away from the article is that to reduce the amount of Indigenous children dropping out of school early, and to increase the level of achievements in school for Indigenous children, teachers need to display more responsive behaviours when teaching. I believe responsive and culturally competent teaching is important for the benefit of all children, especially children from culturally diverse backgrounds, as they are usually behaving in the way that is appropriate in their culture. Unresponsive teachers can misinterpret these behaviours which lead to a multitude of issues for everyone …show more content…

Although I understand the article is from 1994 and I believe that many attitudes towards Indigenous children and people have changed since then, not only in schools but in general. However, I was recently on professional practicum in a year three classroom where there was an Aboriginal girl that was treated by her teacher in a similar way to the children in the article. It was a horrible experience and I felt bad for the child every day as she was not getting the support she needed to succeed. From this experience I believe there is still a lot of learning to be done on behalf of teachers and other education staff in schools to provide a more culturally inclusive setting and to provide teaching that relates to the needs of the

Show More
Related

  • Indigenous Youth In Yolngu Boy Directed By Stephen Johnson

    1441 Words  | 6 Pages

    Despite living in a time of formal equality, Indigenous Australian youth still face many challenges growing up in contemporary Australian society. The marginalisation effects of poverty influenced lifestyles, in conjunction with the stereotypical opinions the dominant white Australian society obtain, influence one’s self worth and esteem, and consequently, their ability to thrive in this modern society. The 2001 motion picture, ‘Yolngu Boy’ directed by Stephen Johnson, clearly demonstrates how Australia’s Indigenous youth are influenced – both negatively and positively – by two opposing forces: the historic Aboriginal traditions, and the modern western culture. However, the film additionally replicates the interdependence between the two conflicting

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Verna St. Denis Article On Aboriginal Injustice

    1393 Words  | 6 Pages

    Aboriginal Injustice In Verna St. Denis’ article, Silencing Aboriginal Curricular Content and Perspectives Through Multiculturalism, she is able to persuasively criticize the government’s use of multiculturalism in order to elude the significance of Aboriginal history – both in public education and national politics. The contents of this paper will include: The author’s main argument and the strengths of her evidence, my own personal opinions of the article, the implications and relevance to the current education system, my own personal philosophies regarding the author’s argument, the incorporation of aboriginal studies in technology education, and finally, the movement forward in recognition and reconciliation of Aboriginal history. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Verna St. Denis’ article and to respond with my own personal philosophies in regards to

    Read More

  • Comparison Between 'Yolngu Boy And Black Chicks Talking'

    1175 Words  | 5 Pages

    Although we are living in a time of formal equality and within a contemporary Australian society, Indigenous Australian youth continue to face many challenges when advancing from youth to adulthood. This essay recognises the continuous influences of western cultures on Indigenous Australian youth; with focus on marginalisation and oppression, stereotyping, as well as the main cultural influences on Indigenous youth and how Indigenous youth and a dominant white Australian culture are both interdependent to one another. These factors have an immense impact on Indigenous Australian youth when shaping their identities. ‘Yolngu Boy’ and ‘Black Chicks Talking’ were viewed to gain an understanding and be used as examples of some of the issues faced

    Read More

  • Strong And Smart Program Conducted By Chris Sarra

    2008 Words  | 9 Pages

    Over many years the commonwealth and the state education departments have put enormous time and effort into producing a wealth of Aboriginal education resources. When developing school-based resources or selecting texts or materials, teachers should carefully evaluate their educational value for embedding Indigenous perspectives. Chris informs us that you can never have too many resources when teaching, especially within the Aboriginal community. He explains that so many resources can be found outside in the Indigenous community. The curriculum is an essential resource for educators to enforce in the classroom to ensure the students are achieving the outcomes for the year.

    Read More

  • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Tasha Riley Analysis

    136 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the article by Tasha Riley “Self-fulfilling Prophecy: How Teachers’ Attributions, Expectations, and Stereotypes Influence the Learning Opportunities Afforded Aboriginal Students” it discusses how teacher’s discrimination in the classroom towards Aboriginal students can affect their employment and financial well-being throughout their life. Tasha Riley conducts a study which looks at how an Aboriginal student’s race, class and gender can influence the teacher’s actions towards them. The study found that teachers do place certain negative factors on Aboriginal students which ultimately, influences their life. Studies such as this should not have these results; a child should not be treated differently due to their race, class and gender. Teachers

    Read More

  • Lisa Jackson's Savage Film Analysis

    540 Words  | 3 Pages

    Media has experienced an exponential growth over the last few decades and is now accessible to many different individuals regardless of their location or social class. Many issues can be broadcast to a wide population in a matter of seconds being beneficial in the sense that past issues such as the residential schooling system can be incorporated into many mainstream aspects of our society. The media, in the sense of residential schools can be used as an effective tool to educate about the history of Aboriginal education primarily through film/video and radio. The inequality, inadequate education, and culture dismemberment that took place within these schooling systems is demonstrated in Lisa Jackson’s Savage.

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Terms Of Reference Essay

    371 Words  | 2 Pages

    Week ones study was focused on the Aboriginal Acknowledgement of Country and the Indigenous terms of reference. These are two very important topics as they focus on the interaction between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians, fostering a relationship a relationship of trust, respect and understanding. A proper understanding of the Aboriginal Terms of Reference is an integral tool for an aspiring teacher such as myself. They encompass the cultural knowledge, understanding and experiences that are at the center of the Indigenous culture (Oxenham, 1999).

    Read More

  • The Wounded Bear: A Modern Day Medicine Story

    1020 Words  | 5 Pages

    As argued by Whitley (2014), “many families may continue to fear an agenda of assimilation for their children and view educational institutions as perpetuating colonization, making the development of collaborative relationships with teachers and administrators even more challenging” (p.156). Over the course of my education to be an early childhood educator I’ve learned that a key factor of success in the classroom both academically and socially is family involvement. Therefore, if the families are apprehensive about the school system it is less likely that will get involved. Whitley, Rawana and Brownlee (2014) point out “Given the intergenerational effects of the residential school system in Canada, many families may view collaboration with school staff and a focus on success in mainstream, off-reserve schools with suspicion or as a low priority” (p.37). Residential schools although now closed are continuing to provide challenges for Aboriginal

    Read More

  • Culturally Supportive Classroom

    498 Words  | 2 Pages

    (pg.80) Acknowledging and embracing a student’s racial or ethnic background is important, but it is just a piece of the educational puzzle. Effective teachers must be culturally responsive, with fine-tuned classroom management skills, and high expectations for all their students. It is crucial for an effective

    Read More

  • Summary Of We Were Children

    863 Words  | 4 Pages

    We Were Children, the documentary on residential schools, is a re-enactment of two aboriginal children and their first hand experiences in the residential school system. The kinds of problems this documentary presented include mistreatment faced by the children who attended these schools, corruption and scandal inside the administration of the schools, and the false perception about these schools that resonated amongst Canadian society. These two children talk about the bullying they had to endure from the nuns which show that the children were not seen as equal to a child of non-Aboriginal decent. Furthermore, the types of abuse administration would put these kids through was immensely disturbing considering this was a state run institution.

    Read More

  • Westernised Form Of Education In No Sugar By Jack Davis

    817 Words  | 4 Pages

    Educational techniques may differ from westernised curriculums, however both styles aim to promote the same key attributes via alternative methods. Alternative methods need to be recognised as educational in their own right. Jimmy exemplifies the intelligent, highly adaptive nature of Indigenous Australians who is forced to conform to cross-cultural demands. Jimmy is more adminant to stick to the ways of his culture as seen by the stage directions [he sharpens an axe, bush

    Read More

  • Residential School Syndrome Analysis

    1228 Words  | 5 Pages

    Though the residential schools may not be the only cause of this, it is certainly the root of many problems for Aboriginal individuals and the healing process will be a long

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Poverty In Canada

    1165 Words  | 5 Pages

    the goal for this category is “Work with Aboriginal leaders and organizations to improve educational outcomes among Aboriginal children and youth” (Aboriginal Affairs, 2005). A strategy for this is that the Ministry of Education work with aboriginal communities, organizations and also school boards to create an Aboriginal education policy (Aboriginal Affairs, 2005). A program that has already helped in this category is that the ministry of education will provide yearly funding (around $650,000) to eight native friendships Centre’s to help fund some secondary school programs (Aboriginal Affairs, 2015). Finally the last category to be covered is the “Aboriginal Justice strategy”. The goal in this category is “The Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) will work with Aboriginal communities and organizations and relevant government ministries to design an integrated policy framework related to Aboriginal justice” (aboriginal Affairs, 2005).

    Read More

  • Impact Of Social Darwinism On Aboriginal Education

    202 Words  | 1 Pages

    Social Darwinism had a major impact on the indigenous Australian education. Largely based on Social Darwinism ideology, the history of Indigenous education in Australia has been one of discrimination and deemed the Aboriginal people as ‘at the lowest stage of human mental development’. For example, education of children revolved around political and public opinion that indigenous children were worthless to the new founded economy and community. Since colonisation, Aboriginal children experienced an education that reinforced the idea that Aboriginal beliefs and values were inferior to Western values. While it is now recognised that children come to school with a predetermined set of beliefs, experiences and values based on their culture.

    Read More

  • Reflection On Indigenous Student Experience

    1051 Words  | 5 Pages

    I particularly agreed with the authors’ argument about blending cultural and academic knowledge (McKinley & Brayboy, 2005, p. 435). I think it is institution’s responsibility to respect their cultural knowledge but also provide appropriate academic knowledge, relative to Indigenous students to be able to actively engage in reciprocal learning with their cultural knowledge, which, then, adds value to their survivance practice. I find that this piece opened up a new way of looking at the challenges which Indigenous students encounter and the ways to move forward with the situation through changing the perception of education not only from Indigenous students, but also from the perspectives of non-Aboriginal members in institutions by providing a way to

    Read More

More about Aboriginal Students In Urban Classroom Analysis

Open Document