Aboriginal Secondary Activity Group

Extract

(Mr Glennon provides a description of a project, funded by the Schools Commission, which will commence in 1978…Ed.)

I have now completed three years as Aboriginal Remedial and Supportive Teacher at Cleveland St. Boys High School. I have come to the decision that while my present role is worthwhile, the numbers of students at the school whom I do not reach are an alarming and significant proportion. These children are the ‘chronic truants’ some of whom have spent as little as two days in an entire year at school. These children invariably (I shall cite specific cases later) end up before the Childrens Court at Yasmar and thence are sent to institutions. The charges levelled at these boys range from truancy, through petty crimes to breaking and entry, and assault and robbery. In ninety per cent of the cases that I have been associated with the offences were committed during school hours.

As the cases over a period of time have been so consistent and cover boys of all academic calibre, there can be no doubt that an alternative curriculum must be developed for these children.