Disappearing Rural Schools: Are We Losing a Fertile
Breeding Ground for Educational Leaders?
EDU8719 Contemporary Issues Conference
Vince O’Brien
Disappearing Rural Schools
This presentation will explore the following issues:
Changing Australian economy
Declining number of
rural schools
Rural schools are special
Challenges related to
rural schools
Educational leadership in rural schools
Preparing for Leadership
roles
The way forward
My Story
o Three years as a classroom teacher in rural schools.
o Four years as a Teaching Principal in two one-teacher schools, both now closed.
o Nine years as a Teaching Principal in a two teacher school.
o Eight years as a classroom teacher in an urban school with an enrolment of over 1000 children.
o Three years as a Behaviour Support Teacher in both small and large schools.
The Changing Australian Economy
No longer riding on the sheep’s back (Gordon, 2003).
Australia is becoming a knowledge-based economy (Australian Government, 2011).
Moving away from agriculture being the driving force of the Australian economy.
Question concerning the viability of some rural communities (Jones, 2009).
20%
80%
Total Number of
Australian Schools 2008
Enrolment less than 100
Enrolment more than 100
1814
7330
Declining Number of Rural Schools
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009)
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011)
Queensland
rural
57 less schools available for inexperienced future leaders.
Queensland. Department of Education and Training (2011a)
Rural Schools are Special
The decline of church goers means that schools are more of the focal point of many rural communities (Wright, 2007).
Rural schools can give people a feeling of identity and attachment (Harmon & Schafft, 2009).
Rural schools offer facilities for community meetings, celebrations and sporting events.
Teachers have little choice but to be adaptable and flexible due to isolation and distances (Halsy, 2011).
Challenges Related to Rural Schools
Recruiting and maintaining staff (Miller, Graham & Paterson, 2006).
Unwilling or unprepared teachers being thrust into leadership roles (Graham, Miller & Paterson, 2009).
The effects of personality clashes between staff or with community members can be magnified (Farmer, 2009).
Educational Leadership in Rural Schools
Seven Principles of Sustainable Leadership and how they can be implemented in a small rural school.
Hargreaves and Fink (2003)
1-4
Educational Leadership in Rural Schools
Seven Principles of Sustainable Leadership and how they can be implemented in a small rural school.
Hargreaves and Fink (2003)
5-7
Preparing for Leadership Roles
Queensland’s Approach
Workforce Capability and Performance Unit
Principal Connect Advisory Service
Mentors for first time Principals
Principal Induction and Resources website
Take The Lead project
Queensland. Department of Education and Training (2011b)
The Way Forward
Consider the lost opportunities for leaders to gain
experience in a unique environment
Make professional development mandatory for aspiring Principals.
Consider the effect on a
rural community when its
school closes.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). Schools by size of student enrolments (FTE)-and school affiliation. Retrieved from
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage?4221.02008?OpenDocument
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). 4221.0 - Schools, Australia: NSSC Table 30a: Non-special schools 1996-2010.
Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/4221.02010?OpenDocument
Australian Government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2011). Australia in brief: A stable and competitive
economy. Retrieved November 22, 2011, from http://www.dfat.gov.au/aib/competitive_economy.html
Farmer, T. (2009). Unique Rural District Politics. Rural Educator, 30(2), 29-33. Retrieved from
http://www.ruraleducator.net/archive/30-2/Farmer.pdf
Gordon J. (2003, July 16). We slid off the sheep's back, now sliding off the land, too. The Age. Retrieved from
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/15/1058035006992.html
Graham, L., Miller, J., & Paterson, D. (2009). Early career leadership opportunities in Australian rural schools. Education In
Rural Australia, 19(3), 25-34. Retrieved from
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Early+career+leadership+opportunities+in+Australian+rural+schools.-
a0219589163
Harmon, H. L., & Schafft, K. (2009). Rural School Leadership for Collaborative Community Development. Rural Educator,
30(3), 4-9.
Halsey, R John. (2011). Small schools, big future. Australian Journal Of Education, 55(1), 5-13. Retrieved from
http://research.acer.edu.au/aje/vol55/iss1/2
Hargreaves, A. & Fink, D. (2004). The seven principles of sustainable leadership. Educational Leadership, 61(7), 8-13.
Retrieved from http://www.msde.maryland.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F7D49A8D-E9D0-4C49-9DE6-
3A878BC9F1F4/18748/seven_principles.pdf
Jones, J. (2009). The development of leadership capacity through collaboration in small schools. School Leadership &
Management, 29(2), 129-156. doi:10.1080/13632430902775509
Miller, J., Graham, L., & Paterson, D. (2006). Bush tracks: viewing teachers' experiences of leadership in rural schools
through a contextual lens. Education In Rural Australia, 16(2), 31-45. Retrieved from
http://search.informit.com.au/browseJournalTitle;res=IELHSS;issn= 1036-0026
Queensland. Department of Education and Training. (2011a). Register of recent school openings, closures and name
changes. Retrieved December 17, 2011, from http://education.qld.gov.au/directory/schools/index.html
Queensland. Department of Education and Training. (2011b). School leaders. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from
http://education.qld.gov.au/staff/development/employee/school_leaders/index.html
Wright, K. (2007). Reenergizing small communities: a vital role for rural schools. The Educational Forum, 71(4), 345-360.
doi:10.1080/00131720709335024