How do i answer this

[stampy]

my eleven year old boy told me this morning that he doesnt understand why the indigenous kids at his school have an exclusive room where they have access to a tv, ipads and food like chips, shapes etc, one other thing he doesnt get is that when they do something wrong they are rewarded by being sent to this area, i dont understand it either and going from experience with an older son it happens in high school as well. why?

[Wedgie]

my eleven year old boy told me this morning that he doesnt understand why the indigenous kids at his school have an exclusive room where they have access to a tv, ipads and food like chips, shapes etc, one other thing he doesnt get is that when they do something wrong they are rewarded by being sent to this area, i dont understand it either and going from experience with an older son it happens in high school as well. why?

What did your boys school advise you when you asked them?
What school is it?
I'd guess it's a program to try and help close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous children's education levels, drop out rates, etc and try and help in other areas they are disadvantaged in.

[stan]

my eleven year old boy told me this morning that he doesnt understand why the indigenous kids at his school have an exclusive room where they have access to a tv, ipads and food like chips, shapes etc, one other thing he doesnt get is that when they do something wrong they are rewarded by being sent to this area, i dont understand it either and going from experience with an older son it happens in high school as well. why?

Ah good luck with that mate.

[helicopterking]

my eleven year old boy told me this morning that he doesnt understand why the indigenous kids at his school have an exclusive room where they have access to a tv, ipads and food like chips, shapes etc, one other thing he doesnt get is that when they do something wrong they are rewarded by being sent to this area, i dont understand it either and going from experience with an older son it happens in high school as well. why?

This happened at my High School in the country.
I never understood it then and when students used to ask, teachers ignored it or couldn't answer it.
Indigenous kids used to turn up 20min late to 40min classes, teacher would ask them to sit down, Then the kid would yell at the teacher,claim the teacher was 'after them' and go chill out in this room for the rest of the day,watch TV, yell abuse at other kids all day.
I understand it now,don't agree wiith it, but good luck explaining this to a 11yr old.
Also, the school I was at, now have cut right back on this, the room still exists but kids have to sign in online, do all their work. If they haven't signed in, a liaison officer will go to the students house and get them.
Its all gone digital, it monitors attendence and work.

[MW]

Sounds like how catholic schools treat special needs kids also.

[Wedgie]

This happened at my High School in the country.
I never understood it then and when students used to ask, teachers ignored it or couldn't answer it.
Indigenous kids used to turn up 20min late to 40min classes, teacher would ask them to sit down, Then the kid would yell at the teacher,claim the teacher was 'after them'

So no other kids ever turned up late or yelled at the teacher?
At my school it was the opposite with only non indigenous children being the problem children, same at my kids schools.
I suppose the lesson of the story is we shouldn't tarnish all people with the same brush.

[beef]

The main issue i have with my kids school is the rewarding of "naughty" kids. They dont do any work cause havoc but when they do the right thing they are rewarded with certificates/free time what ever. Whereas my kids and other kids do the right thing every day and never get anything.

[Wedgie]

The main issue i have with my kids school is the rewarding of "naughty" kids. They dont do any work cause havoc but when they do the right thing they are rewarded with certificates/free time what ever. Whereas my kids and other kids do the right thing every day and never get anything.

I would assume it would be one of several interventions created to try and counter the disadvantages indigenous children face to try and help even up stats for school attendance, education levels, etc.

[The Bedge]

Where is the school? That might give more insight into why the room exists.

Clontarf foundation schools all have a room like this - it's used somewhat as a "sanctuary" for students who at times do need to get away - a lot of aboriginal kids, especially those from under privileged or low socioeconomic families tend to have a lot of behavioural issues and trouble managing their behaviour and situations. These kids are also unlikely to receive great support at home, or come from an environment that does not promote fundamental behaviour and life skills.

The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men and by doing so equips them to participate meaningfully in society.

Academies provide an important school-engagement mechanism for many at-risk students who would otherwise not attend or have low school attendance.

Full time, locally based Clontarf staff mentor and counsel students on a range of behavioural and lifestyle issues while the school caters for their educational needs.

Using a comprehensive approach of supportive relationships, a welcoming environment, and a diverse range of activities, the students develop improved self-esteem and confidence.

Essentially it's all about attendance and retention rates - it's easy to just suspend a kid, but what value does that provide, especially at a young but critical age such as primary school? Given the chance these at-risk kids would probably just drop out of school with no education and no hope.. and then the cycle continues with the next generation and so on and so on.

Also I would imagine there would be rules and provisions around this room - it wouldn't just be a room they can be "be naughty and be rewarded with".

[helicopterking]

This happened at my High School in the country.
I never understood it then and when students used to ask, teachers ignored it or couldn't answer it.
Indigenous kids used to turn up 20min late to 40min classes, teacher would ask them to sit down, Then the kid would yell at the teacher,claim the teacher was 'after them'

So no other kids ever turned up late or yelled at the teacher?
At my school it was the opposite with only non indigenous children being the problem children, same at my kids schools.
I suppose the lesson of the story is we shouldn't tarnish all people with the same brush.

Only the indigenous kids got to go straight to this room after abusing the teacher. If any other kids did the same thing,they got sent to the deputy principals office and were put on progress books,sent back to class, and the book needed to be checked off by the teacher at the end of every lesson for 3 weeks. A failed progress book would earn a suspension from school. 2 suspensions would warrant Expulsion.

[The Bedge]

Suspensions are stupid - I got suspended plenty of times as a kid because I was a naughty boy.. sure I cried the first time, and got smacked across the arse hard by mum - but reality was it meant I didn't need to go to school, I wasn't going to die or anything from it.. if I didn't like school or my teacher was an easy way to get out of it.

Removal from class to another room though - that would be punishment.. I wouldn't be able to influence the other kids and run amok - if I didn't have an audience then there was no point in playing up, and I would still have to come to class.

[Wedgie]

This happened at my High School in the country.
I never understood it then and when students used to ask, teachers ignored it or couldn't answer it.
Indigenous kids used to turn up 20min late to 40min classes, teacher would ask them to sit down, Then the kid would yell at the teacher,claim the teacher was 'after them'

So no other kids ever turned up late or yelled at the teacher?
At my school it was the opposite with only non indigenous children being the problem children, same at my kids schools.
I suppose the lesson of the story is we shouldn't tarnish all people with the same brush.

Only the indigenous kids got to go straight to this room after abusing the teacher. If any other kids did the same thing,they got sent to the deputy principals office and were put on progress books,sent back to class, and the book needed to be checked off by the teacher at the end of every lesson for 3 weeks. A failed progress book would earn a suspension from school. 2 suspensions would warrant Expulsion.

So the answer to my question was "No"? Cheers, your post needed clarification as it was misleading.

[Footy Chick]

bring back the ruler, I say.

[The Bedge]

The main issue i have with my kids school is the rewarding of "naughty" kids. They dont do any work cause havoc but when they do the right thing they are rewarded with certificates/free time what ever. Whereas my kids and other kids do the right thing every day and never get anything.

Positive reinforcement and encouragement is a huge thing. With my U9's I coach, I had a couple of difficult kids this year - and when they were well behaved or listened or did something well, I always praised them and most of the times rewarded them with something at presentation.

I did give every kid something though, but I made a slightly bigger deal about the "naughty" kids.. as the season went on I found they were more engaged in what we were doing, more willing to stay focussed and generally behaved a lot better because they realised that if they were good there was reward AND they enjoyed themselves more - if they were naughty they were punished (bench, time out etc).

[Wedgie]

bring back the ruler, I say.

Why stop there? Let's chain them up, stop them being able to vote and commit a bit of genocide too!

[Brodlach]

That is a really hard question to answer, I have not been in that situation with my two boys and would be flummoxed if they asked me

[Brodlach]

Very astute and intelligent posts there Zartan, fantastic !


Things I thought I would never say about Zartan

[Pseudo]

This only mirrors real life, in which members of minority groups receive benefits which supposedly ameliorate the hardships associated with that minority.

For example, in my day at Flinders Uni there was a room designated for women only; as a refuge where the wimmyn could escape from the stress of being forced to interact with the patriarchy.

There was a room where blokes could go for relief too - but we called it the Tavern, and let women in anyway.

[Booney]

When it seems the objective is to integrate the outcome is to segregate.

[Wedgie]

I'd basically answer it by saying its a small counter in trying to bridge the disadvantage indigenous children face in the education system (and life) and that hopefully measures such as this and others (scholarships, etc) will help bring kids closer to a level playing field in regard to school attendance, drop out rates, education, etc.
It's a complex issue but one worth discussing with children if you have the appropriate knowledge and understanding.