THOUGHTS FOR PRESERVICE AND BEGINNING TEACHERS (46)

The most major blunder both historically and contemporarily in sending people to teach in remote communities, is a failure by authorities to equip them with the knowledge and understanding needed to handle altogether different living and working environments.

While some preparatory inservice may be offered, it is often by people within education departments who have had little or no experience of living and working in remote communities. The inservice usually has more to do with departmental expectation than covering issues to do with the personal and living needs of intending staff. Or they may be conducted by people who have never been to the areas for which they are recruiting.

There are practical matters that should be considered by those either contemplating or about to accept appointments to places away from normal urban and large regional town living. The next few ‘thoughts’ will cover some of these key considerations.