Teaching to Difference: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students in Urban Schools
Abstract
The following paper was presented to a group of teachers, curriculum advisers, school support centre personnel and review officers at a one day conference organised by the Metropolitan West Region of the Queensland Department of Education. The time allocated for this session was 35 minutes. I therefore decided to focus on what I consider to be the two major barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student participation in schooling: recognition and valuing by teachers of children's identity and language. For other factors contributing to children's participation, such as curriculum relevance, parent/community involvement in decision-making, I provided participants with handouts which I had developed during the past four years or so.
References
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Department of Employment, Education and Training. ( 1995) Langwij Comes to School. Canberra: AGPS.
Dwyer J. ( 1989) ‘ Talking with Aboriginal children’, in A Sea of Talk. PETA.
Eades D. ( 1992) Aboriginal English and the Law. Brisbane: Queensland Law Society.
Harkins J. ( 1994) Bridging Two Worlds: Aboriginal English and Crosscultural Understanding. St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press.
