During my research into current educational issues in Sydney
relating to culture and identity, I came across an article by Mohamed Taha
regarding racism in schools. The report did more than just highlight racism as
an issue and speculate upon its causes, it provided insight from the view point
of students and displayed strategies which Punchbowl High undertook to combat
discrimination. Jahad Dib, the principle says, “First and foremost we’ve got a
great sense of family within the school. We’ve created a small family, a
concept where we are all in it together and everyone is equal… and this fits really
well into our student welfare policy…. I know every single kid in the school. I
know their parents.” Mr. Dib displays the importance of the principal and
school policy in providing a free and equal schooling experience.
What I found interesting was that Punchbowl high is home to
440 students from a staggering 35 different cultural groups where 98% of
students come from non-English speaking backgrounds. This high level of multiculturalism
is nevertheless sustainable as the school functions harmoniously indifferent to
the heterogeneous composition and integration of pupils. What’s more is that
the school attempts to cater to every identity through many ways, “especially
in the playground where sports are shared by everybody, in the foods we offer
at the canteen and in the way we celebrate each other’s customs.”
Through working to create a strong sense of community, the
student at punchbowl high have learnt the importance of compassion and respect
for one another; virtues which are integral to the assimilation into society
after secondary school. In addition, students at Punchbowl high participated in
the “what you say matters campaign” where music and education came together to
demonstrate the significance of acceptance and the power of words.
What you say matters.
Racism. It Stops With Me. Feat. Brothablack - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiQq_XAVPLg#t=191
Through this effort to tackle racism, the Australian Human
Rights Commission says, “This is what we're aiming to do. It's about racism. We
want to talk to young kids so we created a video clip to get the message out
there, that this is wrong”. I believe that through the tasteful use of hip hop combined
with an informative purpose is very useful in combating negative social stigmas.
This form of expression is more interesting that regular lecturing and thus it
connects the youth of Australia.
In summation, I
believe the participation of students into welfare policy is significant for
the removal of discrimination in schools. A principal must go further than
enforce the rules of a school; instead he must actively involve pupils into
projects which help raise awareness. This form of media is more readily
accepted into the student populous and thus these virtues are readily internalized
into the community.
"I've got a responsibility as a role model to create
better kids and I take that seriously," Jahad Dib, principal.
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