Changing the tide of low expectations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students Dr Chris Sarra, Stronger Smarter Institute Presentation at Yamaiyamarna Paitya | Teachers are deadly! 2012 national MATSITI conference, July 9-11, Tarndanya (Adelaide), 9-11 July. More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative.

2. Changing the tide of low expectations
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students
MATSITI 2012 National Conference
Dr Chris Sarra
www.strongersmarter.qut.edu.au
www.twitter.com/chrissarra
www.wordpress.com/chrissarra

3. Rhetoric versus Reality

4. What is the rhetoric ?
We are committed to providing quality education outcomes for
all children!

5. What is the reality ?
We are committed to providing quality education outcomes for
all children!
… unless they’re black!
What does this mean for you as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait
Islander teacher?

6. The Stronger Smarter Philosophy
The Stronger Smarter philosophy honours a positive
sense of cultural identity, acknowledges and embraces
positive community leadership, enabling innovative and
dynamic approaches and processes that are anchored
by high expectations relationships. High expectations
relationships honour the humanity of others, and in so
doing, acknowledge one’s strengths, capacity and
human right to emancipatory opportunity.

7. The Stronger Smarter Meta Strategies
• Acknowledging, embracing and developing a positive
sense of identity in schools;
• Acknowledging and embracing Indigenous leadership in
schools and school communities;
• Innovative and dynamic school models in complex social
and cultural contexts;
• Innovative and dynamic school staffing models in complex
social and cultural contexts;
• ‘High expectations’ leadership to ensure ‘high expectations’
classrooms, with ‘high expectations’ teacher/student
relationships.

8. Acknowledging, embracing and developing a
positive sense of identity in schools;
How well do we as teachers, school leaders, policy makers understand
Indigenous Identity?
Which Indigenous Student Identity do our Schools collude with?
What does this mean for you as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
teacher?

9. Perceptions of Aboriginal people
Alcoholics, Drunks, Heavy Drinkers
Boongs, Coons, Niggers, Black bastards, Gins, Darkies
Got it good, privileged, well kept by Government
Lazy, Wont work
Welfare Dependant, Dole Bludgers, Handout syndrome
Aggressive, Violent, Troublemakers, Disrespectful

10. Perceptions of Aboriginal students
Lazy Underachievers Shy
Dirty Disobedient
Aggressive High Absenteeism
Cheeky Defiant Artistic
Sporty Family Oriented Poor Health

11. Strong and Smart Student Identity
Come to school every day
Work hard in the classroom
Be nice to the teacher
Be nice to other children
Work together
Be proud to be Aboriginal
Stand up for yourself

12. Acknowledging and embracing Indigenous
leadership in schools and school communities
Understanding what type of Indigenous Leadership to embrace
• Being the Victim
• Booting the Victim
• Beyond the Victim
Exponential returns in classrooms/schools/communities
What does this mean for you as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
teacher?

13. High expectations’ leadership to ensure ‘high
expectations’ classrooms, with ‘high
expectations’ teacher/student relationships
Relationship Accountabilities
- Supporting
- Developing
- Monitoring
- Challenging
- Intervening

14. You get to ask yourself 4 questions...
Do I ensure my rhetoric as an educator matches my reality?
As a teacher do I collude with a negative stereotype or a Stronger
Smarter student identity?
Do I truly believe I can make a difference?
Do I make this personal?
Well.... Do ya?

15. www.strongersmarter.qut.edu.au
www.twitter.com/chrissarra
www.wordpress.com/chrissarra
www.facebook.com/strongersmarter