Cultural understanding required for Indigenous education

What does it mean to allow students to learn effectively in Australia, where multiculturalism becomes the main context? Is it the amount of work you give them? or is it the classroom discipline you apply? Personally I believe that in a multicultural society such as Australia, student's success does not only depend on these factors, but also on teacher's understanding of different cultures and relationship with the student. According to Irvine (1990), the concept " cultural synchronization" is a very important element behind student's success in learning. What she meant by "cultural synchronization" is that when it comes to teaching students with different cultural background, teachers shouldn't just focus on speech and language interaction, but instead they should develop relationship and get to know the student's culture, such as student's morality, responsibility and spirituality etc. (Irvine, J. 1990) Indeed, with the lag of understanding of student's culture, there would be a gap created between teachers and students, resulting in teaching students with methods that they are not use to and misunderstanding created from stereotyping. Billings (1995) suggests that an effective pedagogy should have a balance between student's achievement and the "fit" between home and school culture. (Billing, L 1995) Therefore, not only is it important to focus on student's achievement in school, but it is also important that there is a connection between the school and the student's culture.

In schools, teaching students with indigenous background is a very good example supporting the importance of cultural connection between teachers and students. In response to the low improvement on attendance of indigenous students, a news article on 18th Sep 2013, found on http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/schools-should-consider-aboriginal-culture/story-fnihsfrf-1226722232796, argues that it is necessary for schools to understand and consider aboriginal culture when teaching. The article argues that there is a different between western and indigenous education system and it is ineffective to teach indigenous students in the western way where "... Kids don't take risk don't learn..." applied. Therefore, the article stresses, it is very important that teacher understand indigenous culture and teach in their context in order to improve the learning of indigenous students.

I understand and agree to the fact that student's achievement is very important in learning, but it is also very important that teacher understands students culture and teach them accordingly, because it is more effective to teach students in their context than having them to struggle and follow yours. A lag of connection between student's home and school culture will significantly decrease the effectiveness teaching and i have seen this personally when a friend of mine completely lost interest in learning due to the fact that there is a major difference in how hes being taught in china and in Australia.

Reference

Billings, G.L. (1995) "Toward A Theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy" "American Education Research Journal" 32(3), pp. 465-491

Irvine, J. (1990) Black Students and school failure. Westport, CT: Greenwood.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/schools-should-consider-aboriginal-culture/story-fnihsfrf-1226722232796