The School of The Air is an Australian invention, as far as I know.I was a teacher in one for four years, and it was the best teaching experience of my life.
The School of The Air was set up in the 1930's for the Outback children who had no access to schools.
For a while, these children would do their limited schooling by correspondance, but this was limiting, and they suffered from lack of socialisation.
The School of the Air used 2 way Radios to enable a teacher to talk to his/her class. The children still had basic correspondance materials to work with, but they received a daily lesson "on air", with their teacher. They were also able to interact with their class mates.
Initially the radios were powered by pedaling a bike, but by the time I was teaching they were very powerful, using the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a transmission.
We still had a lot of interference, mainly due to adverse weather, but occassionally due to the Indonesion military.
As the years went on, it became desirable for each "on air" class to meet. We would choose a central outback location, and all come together to socialise and receive individual help from the teachers.
I travelled hundreds of kilometres doing this.
I will write more about these outback adventures in another discussion.
[question posted by jennybianca]
responses and comments:
Wow! This is the first time I ever heard of it. Is it in Indonesia? Just wondering why can't you go to your class? Is it because the location is a remote area? I am really interested on this "School of the Air". Please let me know more about it. Thanks. [marjonelle]
No,the School of The Air is in Australia. We can't visit our class, all at once, due to the locations being remote. The children in just one class live hundreds of kilometres from each other. I will write more about this in another duscussion if it proves to be of interest. [jennybianca]
Can I suggest a little something. Remind you it's just constructive critisism. But in this discussion it would have been greta to have had a link posted. I'd have checked it our right away. But anyhow sounds very interesting indeed. Thanks for thas post. Wished I had this typpe of schooling. HAHAHA. Beats home schooling in a sense. Happy postings from Grandpa Bob. [webeishere]
Much appreciated friend. Happy postings from Grandpa Bob [webeishere]
There is distance learning today, available by computer. It enables small schools to offer more classes, and people in less populated areas to get better selection in their studies. It sounds like your experience was a lot of fun and was very worthwhile. I look forward to reading more. [GardenGerty]
that is so interesting to read about ..I live in the states and I have never heard of these schools ... Never really thought about how kids had been schooled in such places as Australia ...that is so cool ...yes please do write more about this subject as its very facinating to me ... would love to learn more...do you have any old photos to be able to show us how things were done as well ??? that would be awesome too ..I am really wanting to see the bike and how it powered the radio ...lol reminds of the old treddle sewing machinre ...lol [lifeiseasy]
That sounds amazing it's easier now we have the internet to do things like that I imagine. The internet is a great resource for home schooling parents and people living in isolated locations. It's great you did get the kids together to socialize as that's so important to there development. [nancyrowina]