A UNIQUE SCHOOL

                                   School of the Air

Before the internet, smart phones, Skype or text messaging Australia had a unique school for its children who lived in the outback where distances are indeed great.  In Alice Springs we were fortunate to visit the School of the Air headquarters  that was established in 1951.  

With a broadcast area of 1.3 million square kilometers, the equivalent.  area the size of central Europe, they reach school children living in isolated areas in the outback.

At the time of my visit there  were 120 children enrolled, ranging in age from 4½ to 12 or 13. The average enrollment is 150; at the peak 180 children were enrolled. One-third of the children are aboriginal. There are several such schools in the country, each covering up to 100 kilometers.

            A guide told us, “The cost is $80 a year per child, plus an $80 one-time fee for equipment and a $50 computer fee. The children see the teacher and their classmates three times a year. Each child has a home tutor, often the mother, in addition to the teacher. Materials are mailed to the child every two weeks with assignments, and in turn all work is mailed back to the teacher in Alice Springs. The majority of the children are in the top 10% of their grade and 90% go on to college. Class size is 8-15 children.

“After age 12 or 13 the child has to come to Alice Springs to boarding school, which consists of four ten-week sessions and costs $10,000-15,000 a year,”the guide told us.

When the guide was finished, before touring the facility, we looked at some photos. Most of us made a donation to the school for school supplies.

We all were impressed with the facility and the neat program. But what a lot of work for mom, who already has plenty to do!