1) What are you expecting to see and learn on your placement?
My experiences in Ceduna form some of my preconceptions of rural teaching, prior to my placement at Port Augusta Secondary School (PASS). I recognise that the stereotypes held by many about Port Augusta as a low socio-economic regional town has influenced my expectations. I am also aware of the higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and indigenous population in the Far North of South Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). As a result, I believe I will frequently encounter students with behavioural or familial issues. However, this will provide an opportunity to observe how behavioural management strategies are utilised by these teachers. There may be a greater proportion of specialised teachers, including those trained as counsellors and Aboriginal education officers.
Conversely, I assume that the school will have a heavy vocational focus, at the expense of traditional academic pathways. Therefore, I do not expect to learn anything substantial about gifted education or the delivery of high-level content. Overall, I imagine that the lifestyle and attitudes between rural and metropolitan teachers will differ greatly. My experiences indicate …show more content…
This was met by intense focus on alternative pathways, behaviour management, and engagement strategies. Ultimately, it demonstrated the wealth of knowledge and skill that is needed to succeed in rural education. This placement also emphasised the extraordinary amount of effort required for personal development, and the benefits of doing so. The relationships with students, and their positive outcomes, promote staff resilience, which is especially critical for graduate teachers. However, several negative statements from other graduate teachers served as a reminder that rural education is not suited to those who do not wish to fully commit themselves to succeed in a difficult
My experiences in Ceduna form some of my preconceptions of rural teaching, prior to my placement at Port Augusta Secondary School (PASS). I recognise that the stereotypes held by many about Port Augusta as a low socio-economic regional town has influenced my expectations. I am also aware of the higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and indigenous population in the Far North of South Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). As a result, I believe I will frequently encounter students with behavioural or familial issues. However, this will provide an opportunity to observe how behavioural management strategies are utilised by these teachers. There may be a greater proportion of specialised teachers, including those trained as counsellors and Aboriginal education officers.
Conversely, I assume that the school will have a heavy vocational focus, at the expense of traditional academic pathways. Therefore, I do not expect to learn anything substantial about gifted education or the delivery of high-level content. Overall, I imagine that the lifestyle and attitudes between rural and metropolitan teachers will differ greatly. My experiences indicate …show more content…
This was met by intense focus on alternative pathways, behaviour management, and engagement strategies. Ultimately, it demonstrated the wealth of knowledge and skill that is needed to succeed in rural education. This placement also emphasised the extraordinary amount of effort required for personal development, and the benefits of doing so. The relationships with students, and their positive outcomes, promote staff resilience, which is especially critical for graduate teachers. However, several negative statements from other graduate teachers served as a reminder that rural education is not suited to those who do not wish to fully commit themselves to succeed in a difficult