The Experiences of a First-Year Teacher in an Aboriginal School

Abstract

As a beginning teacher completing my first term in an Aboriginal school, I would like to reflect upon my experiences of the last three months.

I was trained in a three year Primary course at Salisbury C.A.E. and accepted a position at Fregon Special Aboriginal School, 900 miles north-west of Adelaide. Fregon is an Aboriginal community which recently transferred from control by the Presbyterian Ecumenical Board of Missions to control by an Aboriginal Council. The community consists of approximately one hundred and fifty tribally-oriented Pitjantjatjara people and ten Europeans.

I will deal with the following points which cover my experience – personal situation, cultural factors, teaching.