Symbols in schools

Australian flag flying with words underneath - 'Australians all let us rejoice'

Activity: What do the visual artefacts and symbolic acts at a school say about the school itself?

In small groups construct a list of the ‘visual’ artefacts and symbolic acts from a school you recently visited.

You might like to consider:

  • festivities/celebrations
  • flags
  • paintings/posters/murals
  • national anthem
  • Acknowledgment of Country
  • house names
  • who are the special guests invited to special assemblies and school events?
  • newsletters
  • SRC representatives

Questions for discussion:

What do the visual artefacts and symbolic acts reveal about the school’s culture/attitude to cultural diversity and promoting students’ identity and belonging in the school?

  • Is the school culture open and accepting or narrow and/closed?
  • Whose culture and identity is being represented and promoted?
  • What do the visual artefacts and symbolic acts say to students and families about Australian cultures and Australian history?
  • By looking around the school and being part of school events and celebrations, who would you say would have a sense of ’belonging’?
  • Does your group’s list of visual artefacts and symbolic acts reflect Australia’s cultural diversity?

Report what you discussed in your groups to your class and come back to the big question: What do the visual artefacts and symbolic acts in a school say about the school itself?

Image: YouTube