Overview

This book is about changing the paradigm of the established system of schooling in Australia. Education has long been recognised as the key to addressing intergenerational and social disadvantage, but the notion of a socially inclusive future is the particular concern of this book, in relation to marginalised groups of young people who may not have the social capital, socio-economic background, family support or life opportunities to progress through the education system according to its established parameters. The chapter themes include:
• what young people are telling us about schooling and their lives, and what it takes to engage young people in learning
• social inclusion and school retention: the South Australian experience and joined- up working
• shaping systems, policy and practice to increase learning opportunities and more equitable outcomes for all young people

The book also provides case study examples drawn from South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative School Retention Action Plan which was implemented to address early school leaving and disengagement from learning by young people.

Dr Tom Stehlik is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of South Australia and Dr Jan Patterson led the development of the evaluation and research capacity for South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative. The contributors, drawn from academic, policy and practice settings, have all been involved in investigating and generating innovations and alternatives to the existing education paradigm.

Table of Contents

The themes running through the chapters include:

• What young people are telling us about schooling and their lives and what it takes to engage young people in learning

• Social inclusion and school retention: the South Australian experience and joined up working

• Shaping systems, policy and practice to increase learning opportunities and more equitable outcomes for all young people

Chapters:

• Challenging the paradigm: education and social inclusion.
  Jan Patterson

• Road maps or global positioning systems? Young people’s lives in the twenty-first century: preparing for a global future through education and training.                   
  Alison Mackinnon

• Listen to me, I’m still leaving: young people’s perspectives on schooling.
  Robert Hattam

• Senior secondary study as a part-time phenomenon? Implications for policy and practice.
  Katherine Hodgetts and Marie Brennan

• We know what to do but we don’t always do it: aligning policy and practice.             
  Jan Patterson

• Evolution of Aboriginal education solutions at the ‘cultural interface’: Educators’ capacity to respond to the learning priorities of Aboriginal families.                          
  Helen Dolan and Jillian Miller

• Relationships, participation and support: necessary components for inclusive learning environments and (re)engaging learners.
  Tom Stehlik

• Re-engaging young people in learning: the ICAN experience.                                
  Susanne Koen and Phillipa Duigan

• Caring for hope: the importance of hope for socially excluded young people.        
  Patrick O’Leary, Peter Bishop, Alison Mackinnon and Simon Robb

• Conclusion: changing the paradigm – moving forward to more equitable educational outcomes for all young people.
  Tom Stehlik

Reviews

‘In a number of ways, this book models the very sort of educational discourse that is needed if the factors that create social exclusion are to be challenged successfully. It is a rich source of ideas for policy makers and practitioners in school education as they explore the most important yet least understood question in Australian education: how do we ensure that the benefits of a quality education system are available to all children and young people?’
Professor Emeritus Alan Reid, University of South Australia