Negatives

"Learn by your mistakes" 

"it's almost impossible to shut the stable door when the horse has bolted"

"the school should be run by the administration and the classrooms by the teachers"

Crow Creek has an unfortunate history like many Aboriginal communities.  The foundation of the community was built on:

• dispossession of land

• different tribal groups being thrown together

• loss of culture due to such policies of not letting the people keep their language

• separation of family members due to policies of assimilation etc.

So what is the situation today and are there lessons to be learnt for the future of Aboriginal communities.

Governing councils

• sure democracy, self government, responsibility, determining their own future is a good thing but what is the reality.

• powerful family groups have all the control at the expense of the majority.  These groups control the money, employment etc.  "Jobs for the boys" is rife. 

• Elections are surrounding by vote buying, promises of rewards for 'scratching my back'.

• Finances need to be audited by independent people and they should be openly available for members of the community to view

• all groups in the community need to be represented

• governing councils need to have limited power in the employment and firing of teachers in their schools.  Students can intimate teachers by saying "my father will get you sacked because he is on the tribal council."

Principals

• appointing a Principal who is a member of the local community may not be wise.

• he can be intimidated by members of his own community

• his hands can be tied on lots of issues

• schools are led from the top and that person needs to lead

• the Principal needs to support the teachers and not let parents or students intimidate staff

Teachers

• all teachers' need to be fully qualified

• teachers need to regularly upgrade their academic skills by attending in-services and doing study modules.

Curriculum

• the whole staff need to discuss their educational mission

• relevant curriculum needs to be formulated

• curriculum needs to be integrated

• curriculum needs pathways of progress through the grade levels

Grades

• teachers should not be intimidated by parents and students demanding high unrealistic grades

• grades need to be comparable across classes and between schools

• teachers should not over assess

• teachers should assess in a variety of ways

Student behaviour

• clear guidelines of acceptable behaviour and consequences need to be established.

• "zero tolerance" needs to be consistent if used

• policies need to be put in place for disturbed or for socially disruptive students

• adopt policies that will promote involvement and parents accepting responsibility for their children

Drugs, violence and suicide

• schools need to address these issues by education, counselling and adopting strategies and coping skills

• court appearances for underage drinking and drugs is very common - students seems to be proud and it seems to be a ticket to acceptance and becoming an adult

• violence is a common topic of conversation.  Staff need to adopt policies that will address common issues brought to the classroom.

Counsellors

• fill an important role

• should support students and staff

• should not interfere in classroom management or be used as a tool by students to create excuses or distractions from learning

Other staff members

• secretaries, bursars, teaching assistants and others should not dictate policy, intimate or pressure the administration or classroom teachers in inappropriate ways

Telephones, walkie talkies, mobile phones and classroom intercoms

• all great devices but sure to fray the nerves and be very detrimental when overused.

• these devices in classrooms should be used only for essential communication

Vending machines

• surely in a community with high instances of  diabetes and overweight problems, the supply and promotion of pop, chips and candy is detrimental

• as we know pop make kids 'hyper' and 'hooked' - so much so that some students are large bottles of Pepsi into the classroom already half empty by second period.  By College Pepsi is a constant companion.

• the use of these in classrooms is not appropriate

The numbers game

• schools are forced to offer vending machines and lots of incentives to attract students to the school

• schools retreat from "no tolerance" policies when numbers fall causing economic impacts.

Sport

• sport raises self esteem especially to students who struggle academically

• sport should not run the school

• students should not be so worn out by sport that they cannot stay awake  in the classroom

Budgets

• need to be clearly established at the beginning of the year for all departments

• such areas as sporting budgets should not be given the bulk of the money to the detriment of other areas e.g. the library and purchase of new books