Cultural reflection in teacher education

Australian education, in spite of a policy of multiculturalism, is struggling to meet the needs of Polynesian students who represent a growing minority group entering the Australian school system. Australian schools and teachers have found it difficult to respond to the specific cultural orientation and learning needs of Polynesian Australian students. Polynesian young people represent a significant proportion of students exhibiting low achievement, disengagement and alienation. To address these issues, this paper outlines teacher education innovations at the University of Sydney, Faculty of Education and Social Work, in preparing pre-service teachers for working with Polynesian Australian students and their communities. The paper will outline developments in teacher education curriculum and models of school-community-university partnership, for professional development of teachers working with Polynesian Australian students in Australian classrooms. The paper will also present research on the development of critical cultural reflection in teacher education students within the Master of Teaching at the University of Sydney.