Good teachers/bad teachers: How rural adolescent students' views of teachers impact on their school experiences

Abstract

Student views of their teachers and schooling can influence motivation and interest in schooling as well as their approach to learning. This paper describes the results of an investigation of rural adolescents' views of their schooling. A total of 240 students from government and non-government schools in the South West of Western Australia were interviewed in small groups. They offered a diversity of responses and insights related to their views of teachers and teaching. Results indicate that what these young people needed from their schools was enough flexibility and choice to cater for this diversity, not only in terms of curriculum, but in the methods of teaching, and the scope of future potentials made available for them. Students were able to offer a range of thoughtful, clear descriptions of what worked and did not work for them at school and what needed to happen to make school meaningful and relevant to their lives and needs.