Decolonisation and cultural responsiveness are about understanding, respecting, and acting in ways that acknowledge both the history and the diversity of the world we live in. Decolonisation and cultural responsiveness shape how we interact, learn, and grow together in a shared society. Decolonisation and cultural responsiveness have a lot to do with me as I hope to one day teach at a public high school. It is estimated that 25% of Australian students have English as a second or additional language or dialect which includes Aboriginal students who have Aboriginal English as a first language (ACARA, 2021). Because schools are so diverse with different learners it is important that teachers have an understanding of decolonisation and cultural responsiveness as they must connect with and understand their learners/students. Inn my schooling experience programs were created for minority groups, such as Clontarf for the young male Aboriginal students. As a result of this I believe that decolonisation and cultural responsiveness was not incorporated in my high school education. A way in which we can navigate the lack of knowledge is to engage in professional development and learning and collaboration with experts and community members. When teaching about/with/for diversity it requires an ongoing commitment to learning, collaborating and adapting.
Reference List:
ACARA. (2021). Planning for student diversity. Www.australiancurriculum.edu.au. https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/student-diversity/planning-for-student-diversity/
