Collaborative and reflective approaches
Sustainable change occurs when school communities work together to identify, understand and address the deeper issues through all curriculum areas, teaching practices and relationships; in school policies and organisation; and in the public arena. It involves staff, students and carers in:
- developing a shared understanding
of the nature and extent of bullying, harassment, violence and discrimination
in the school and society; and the ways in which power and political, social
and cultural influences affect interpersonal behaviours, institutional practices
and the educational and social outcomes for diverse communities
- challenging and changing beliefs,
attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate domination and submission in relationships
and institutional practices
- valuing and engaging with all representative
cultures and ensuring that all groups and individuals are included
in the practices, institutions and benefits of a fair and democratic society
- articulating the relationships, roles, responsibilities
and behaviours that will characterise a socially just and fair school and
society where every individual and group feels equally valued, respected,
included and empowered
- developing skills and options for
resolving conflict equitably and for building relationships of trust with
those less familiar
- actively pursuing justice for others and taking responsibility for their own behaviour.
"When we analysed the situation, we found a lack of acceptance of differences due to a person's race or gender or class ... We wanted to make sure our curriculum was challenging, engaging and inclusive."
"A great thing to do with students is to critically analyse forms of popular culture, like music and music videos, TV, movies, magazines and advertising to understand issues of the world as students see them. Work with them to understand how fashions and fads are influenced by these things. Help them to be active and critical people, not passive consumers able to be manipulated by the latest thing."
"We've used drama and dance in forum theatre to investigate violence and injustice and to enable students to see and hear points of view different from their own."
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