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Framework for countering racism |
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Teachers and other school staff
Know your rights and responsibilities
- Reflect on your own opinions and views on Australian identity.
- Be aware of your own rights and responsibilities in relation to racial
discrimination.
Challenge racism whenever it occurs
- Teach students what racist behaviour is and set clear expectations in terms
of non-racist behaviour.
- Challenge racist attitudes conveyed in the community, media and in popular
culture.
- When you see racist behaviour deal with it immediately wherever and whenever
it occurs.
- Teach students about their rights and responsibilities in relation to racial
discrimination.
- Encourage students to report racist
behaviour.
Be a positive role model
- Model inclusive, positive, non-racist behaviour in the classroom, playground
and staff room.
- Be consistent and fair in applying school policies and procedures.
- Foster sensitivity to other people’s practices and beliefs.
- Share information about your own cultural
background.
Assess your own attitudes, behaviour and training needs
- Identify your own training needs in relation to education to counter racism,
cultural understanding and inclusive teaching practice.
- Be open to staff development opportunities which aim to increase
cross-cultural understanding.
- Obtain factual information about racism and its effects.
- Consider debates on topical issues such as Reconciliation and immigration
and form your own opinions based on the facts.
- Evaluate your own teaching practice and teaching and learning materials for
bias and sensitivity.
Recognise and value cultural diversity
- Establish classroom practices that reflect and value the perspectives of
culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- Find out about the cultural and language backgrounds of the students in your
school.
- Treat students as individuals – don’t make assumptions based on
stereotypes of particular groups.
- Learn to pronounce students’ names correctly.
- Encourage students to express their own cultural identity or identities and
maintain their home language.
- Allow students to use their first language.
- Discuss the importance of Reconciliation and cultural
diversity.
Create an inclusive learning environment
- Seek out, use and share learning resources which include the perspectives of
culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- Incorporate material which challenges racist attitudes and facilitates
cultural understanding into teaching and learning activities where
appropriate.
- Make sure that students from all backgrounds feel confident to participate
in class.
- Seek language support for students who need it.
- Encourage positive interaction between students of different backgrounds.
- Make sure that assessment tasks do not discriminate against some groups of
students.
- Ensure verbal instructions are easily understood by all students.
- Recognise Aboriginal English as an acceptable variation of Australian
English.
- Refer to all students and groups living in Australia as
‘Australian’.
Encourage the involvement of parents and community members from all
backgrounds
- Encourage parents and caregivers from all communities to participate in
school activities.
- Make use of translations, interpreters and language support staff.
- Seek feedback from all parents and caregivers in relation to the
effectiveness of classroom activities and their child’s
progress.
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