Reflection on a current educational issue in Sydney relating to culture and identity

Issue in relation to identity and culture found in Australia, I personally believe, are the presence of discrimination against homosexuality and race, where discriminated targets have limited opportunity and right to the access of education. According to Gewirtz (1998) "...Equality of opportunity can be viewed as the existence of equal formal rights, equality of access and equality of participation..."( Gewirtz, S. 1998). I once heard on the radio speaking of Australia as a country of equal opportunity, and I believe in that personally, hence in relation to education, I believe that equal opportunity should be, as described by Gewirtz, giving all students the same right and opportunity in accessing education, regardless of their race, age, sex, social status and homosexuality etc. However, in reality, I found that this is not the case and it seems that discrimination still exists within education in Australia.

The Sydney morning herald, on September 19 2013, talks about the introduction of anti discrimination amendment due to the ineffectiveness of the Anti-Discrimination Act  in dealing with discrimination in schools due to the fact that the act only has effect in public schools, whereas private schools ignores it. The article also stress on situations where discrimination against homosexuality still exists in private schools, even though the opponent to he bill denied such fact. The situations bought up in the article talks about how homosexual people don't have the same educational right as others. They are being denied by their school due to their identity, e.g. not being able to get into senior high school and being called as disgrace to the school by their teacher because of the catholic religion etc. From this we are able to see that the situation of the current education in Sydney is completely opposite to what Gewirtz proposed, due to the fact that homosexual people are being  discriminated against because of their identity and are being denied of having equal opportunity. From more information go visit: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/discrimination-has-no-place-in-schools-20130919-2u13f.html

In terms of cultural issue, there are many students that are still facing racial discrimination in the classroom. Multiculturalism is one of the main characteristics of Australia, especially in education where students from all over the world with different background are present in the classroom. This, however, becomes the basis for discrimination in the classroom where students from a different cultural background are being discriminated against. The article written by Roving, E (n.d. ) has reported situations where students from different cultural background are being discriminated against in the classroom, for example being making fun of by others, stereotyped by others and being alienated. This also shows the issue of the current educational system in Sydney, where there are racial discrimination in the classroom. This denies the equality of participation in an emotional and psychological way as students are not able to participate equally in the class due to alienation by other students as the result of discrimination, where students could not find a sense of belonging in the classroom.

For me, personally I believe that every one should have equal opportunity in gaining access to education regardless of their race, sex, homosexuality and status etc. I believe that every one should be treated equally and have the same opportunity. Therefore I am completely agree with what the principal is doing in Punchbowl High School in promoting equality as reported by abc news on the 31st of July, where acceptance of different cultures are being promoted through the building up of a community. More information can be found on http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/hip-hop-helps-students-overcome-racism-in-australian-schools/4854174

Reference:

Gewirtz, S (1998). Conceptualizing social justice in education: mapping the territory. Journal of Education Policy, 13(4), pp. 469-484

Roving, E (n.d.) Racism in Schools. Youth Central. retrieved from http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/News+%26+Features/Articles/ViewPage.action?&repositoryName=&siteNodeId=515&CurrentFolderID=1966&ItemID=15527&BackToFolderID=1523#.Umzuy8V9xF0 on 27th Oct 2013.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/discrimination-has-no-place-in-schools-20130919-2u13f.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/hip-hop-helps-students-overcome-racism-in-australian-schools/4854174