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Whole school community

Building a safe and supportive school and preventing bullying

Provide opportunities through the curriculum for the diversity of students (and staff) to develop relevant knowledge and skills in positive communication

Encourage active citizenship

• Summary
• Examples
• Resources

Summary

Education plays a major role in developing young people as active citizens who will contribute to a fair, safe, respectful and culturally diverse civil society.

Active citizenship involves more than just exposing students to information about the rights and responsibilities of a responsible citizen. It engages students:

• in genuine and meaningful tasks that teach about valuing and transmitting their own and others' cultural knowledges
• in understanding the issues surrounding gender and race relations and their relationship to discriminatory behaviours such as bullying and harassment
• in developing skills in critical thinking, decision making and working respectfully and positively with others
• in actively working to ensure that all cultural groups and individuals are included in democratic practices of the peer group, school and society.

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Examples

• A high school drama department has been working with students to design drama activities that raise awareness and educate about homophobia and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues within schools. Students have workshopped ideas and performed drama pieces within the school community. The students have raised the awareness of the general school population. The activities have enhanced students' understanding and greatly increased their confidence to act on discriminatory behaviour.

  Schools in action:
  Getting over homophobia

• To foster racial and cultural understanding, a primary school with a high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population developed a Cultural Studies Program.

  The program is based upon an inclusive curriculum with strong links to the English and SOSE, Lifeskills, Art and Music curricula. A respect for all cultures is encouraged and taught through explicit themes. The program utilises a wide variety of sources, is strongly literature-based and relies on Indigenous writers, artists and community leaders.
  

  Schools in action:
  Valuing cultural diversity

• Year 7 students have been involved in an active citizens project this year. It began with a focus on outdoor education-based activities in Term 1. Teachers and students planned and facilitated all activities with the support of outdoor education leaders. The students have continued through the year by working in classrooms and the playground with younger classes. They have taught and supervised playground games, and worked with younger students on issues of bullying and harassment.

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Resources

• Challenging Democracy: International Perspectives on Gender, Education and Citizenship
  Arnot, M. and Dillabough, J. (eds) (2000)
  London: Routledge Falmer

  Focuses on the relationships between gender and discipline and the influence of schools in preparing students for their future roles as citizens.

• Civics and Citizenship: we will take part
  Adelaide: Department of Education Training and Employment (1998)

  A resource designed for teachers of middle to upper primary classes, but adaptable for younger students, the secondary school and a range of curriculum areas. The two books cover unit planning, sample lessons, teacher and student resources, an annotated reference list; and 'The ABC of being a critically literate citizen' - an extensive glossary for students and teachers. The resource covers a range of values and skills for respectful relations and the elimination of discrimination.

• Look global: Global perspectives in the upper primary classroom
  Guy, Roslyn (1999)
  Carlton South, Victoria: Curriculum Corporation

  This 181 page book with lesson plans, activities and handouts helps teachers and students to thoughtfully explore global issues and relationships; and to develop positive relationships and respect difference. Topics include Rights versus reality; food for all?; Living with war; Refugee children; Understanding differences; and Helping ourselves and others.