1. Hello I am Zainab.This is the story ofmy life I have ZAINABS JOURNEYincorporate pictures,paintings andsketches through out my journey. I hope you enjoy. Please pause at thesolution slides if you wish to read. (Mamadou, 2008) By Shaquille Wilson, Rahmah Mohamed Ali and Tristan Grogan

2. (Physical map Africa mali, n.d.)My hometown in the Republic ofMali 3. The only photo I have of my family: Father,mother, Aicha and myself. (Biro, n.d.) 4. (Some protesters carried a mock coffin with the name of Malis interim president, 2012)The rebel protest in 2012 where my parentslost their lives 5. (Egan-chinnydn, 2010)My parents funeral; the most traumatic day 6. Here is a photo of mygrandmother morning her loss. Below is Aichaunaware of what hasjust happened. How Iwish my parents could have comforted her.(Egan-chinnydn, 2010)(Egan-chinnydn, 2010) 7. (Uluru_ayers_rock_alice_springs_Australia101, n.d.)The land of opportunity a newlife 8. (Refugee boat arriving 1985, n.d.)The treacherous journey to our new home 9. (Murty, 2011) Christmas islandrefugee camp. Wetravelled all thisway to be imprisonedso much for the land of opportunity. 10. (Australians first green primary school , n.d.)Zainab was exposed to social injustice and educational inequity on herfirst day of schooling. Social justice is based upon a society who equallydistributes rewards and burdens to civilians, disregarding barriers suchas prejudice, sexism, racism and classism (Rajda, 2006). UnfortunatelyZainab was a victim of injustice as she was alienated on her first day ofschool, and treated as unequal to the other students in class. This ispossibly due to the perceptions, bias or preconceived stereotypes herpeers or teacher held which led to this unjust treatment. 11. (Primary league tables, n.d.)The Australian Educational system promotes inequality through assumption thateach student is as likely as the other to succeed when entering the classroom. InZainabs case not only was English not her first language, but she was not literatein her first language French either. Without the appropriate teaching modificationsand extra assistance Zainab would find it difficult to achieve and learn in not onlyEnglish, but all of the learning areas in the Australian Curriculum (Strekalova &Hoot, 2008). Already dealing with the confusion of an unfamiliar language Zainabmust also deal with the exclusive practices of her teacher and peers, leading to 12. SOLUTION Pause toread!Unfortunately in this situation the teacher has not helped Zainab inthe classroom. However with a change of teaching philosophy andmindset the teacher could assist. Strekalova & Hoot (2008, p.21)states that with a deliberate understanding of refugee childrenspast, teachers can play a major role in helping them curve a betterfuture. In this case the teacher has not tried to understand whereZainab is coming from so cannot assist with her learning. If theteacher did learn about Zainab she would be able to accommodate forher needs in the classroom. Also the teacher has obligation to createan environment which encourages diversity and harmony (Lynch,2011). Creating this environment would assist Zainab not only in the 13. Religion will always play a crucial role in my life(McCarthy, 2011)Peer interaction is very important for building a childs sense of self andconcrete place in this world (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010). Unfortunately inZainabs situation peer relationships and interactions had to be compromisedbecause of her strong belief system and obligation to prayer practices. It isthrough lack of cultural understanding about her belief system that her peerstease and mock Zainab, simply because they do not understand why she isdifferent. Without a foundation of peer support to help transition Zainab intoAustralian schooling Zainab would be left feeling alienated and upset, thesefeelings having a direct correlation to her achievement in the classroom 14. SOLUTIONPause to read!The environment in which Zainab is being educated in has no culturalunderstanding other than its own. DECS (2007, p.20) states thatdeveloping cultural understanding and awareness is essential insupporting the learning and settlement of students and their families.Providing cultural understanding and awareness to Zainabs peersmay allow them to feel more comfortable in accepting her. Alsostudents may have some misconceptions about Zainabs beliefswhich have been passed on through media or their community. 15. (Teachers complain of students falling asleep in class after watching television until midnight, 2009)A students home life will have dramatic implications on all aspects of their life atschool; whether it is achievement, behaviour or attendance (Chawla, 2007). It isevident that Zainabs teacher is uninformed about her home life which has led toeducational inequity through the deliverance of class rules and behaviourmanagement. When the teacher does not seek to find out the motive or reasonbehind the student disobeying the rules, injustice occurs. Without properclarification of expectations, school policies and help to transition to meet thesepolicies Zainab was left to feel shame and guilt for disobeying what was out of her 16. SOLUTIONPause to read!As previously mentioned, the teacher once having understoodZainabs situation would assist greatly in resolving many of herissues. However its not just the teacher who must strive to assiststudents from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Australiangovernment has an obligation to assist all students like Zainabthroughout their education. The government should be developingpolices and strategies with the goal of reducing disadvantage andinequalities in the classroom (Marginson, 2004). If the governmentwould change or adapt the teachers would find it easier to support 17. (Protesters clash with police on a street in Sydneys central business district Saturday,n.d.)The media plays a crucial role in shaping stereotypes and public perception ofgroups in society (McCombs, 2004). Social injustice is often strengthenedthrough negative perceptions portrayed in the media, often marginalisingcultural or religious groups. In Zainabs situation the media has played a rolein alienating herself from peers and members of her community. Her peershave also evoked memories of traumatic experiences in Mali, furtherdistressing Zainab and making her feel uneasy at school. Without a safe andaccepting learning environment Zainabs ability to learn and achieve is 18. SOLUTIONPause to read!Unfortunately the outside influences of media on the community andclassroom cannot be stopped. However if students are taught that themedia is subjective with an agenda they may not believe it without anydoubt. Creating the right environment in the classroom would supportZaniab rather than persecute her. The school should be aware thatstudents who are refugees are feeling a history of oppression andhave often experienced untold human horrors (Strekalova & Hoot,2008, p.8). With this in mind the school should provide Zaniab withcounsellors. Counsellors would provide Zaniab with a form of amethod of expressing her emotions as well as professional assistance 19. (Mohammad, 2011)Content wise the Australian Curriculum can be very unfair to students comingfrom a refugee background. With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders historyand culture being a cross curriculum priority across the Australian Curriculumcontent areas; it is easy to see how a student from an Australian context would bepredisposed to succeed in this area (ACARA, 2010) in comparison to a student 20. (Dufour, 2013)Information and Communication Technology is a general capability integratedinto all Australian Curriculum areas. In Zainabs case some of the technologyavailable in classrooms is completely foreign to her. When demonstratingunderstanding using technology, she is placed at a disadvantage to otherstudents and her achievement may suffer because of it. 21. SOLUTIONPause to read!To best assist students like Zaniab the Australian Curriculum shouldbe working towards cultural inclusivity. Having a culturally inclusivecurriculum would mean all students would be able to build andcontribute in the classroom (DECS, 2007). This type of curriculumwould be focusing on the different values which are shared acrosscultures. Zaniab instead of being seen as a burden would be abeneficial resource with all the knowledge she could share of adifferent culture. Being aware of Zaniabs limitations with technologythe teacher should modify her tasks to a beginner level. The teachershould also consider giving her different modes to demonstrate 22. (Jones, 2008)My grandmothers graveyard, may she rest inpeace. 23. My foster care family took care of me and changed my(Kitaab club kicks off!, n.d.)life 24. I am so grateful for being given theopportunities tosucceed in life,.(Maya teachers, n.d.) 25. REFERENCESAustralian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority. (2012). Australian CurriculumRetrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.auAustralias first green primary school [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from:http://designbuildsource.com.au/australias-green-primary-schoolBiro, P. (2013). Malian family, Kati [Image].Retrieved from: http://www.rescue.org/food-crisis-meets-conflict-africas-sahelDepartment of Education and Childrens Services (DECS). (2007). Count me in! a resourceTo support ESL students with refugee experience in schools. SA: DECS.Dufour, F. (2013) Students use ipad digital tablets at the british school of paris [Image].Retrieved from: http://tiny.cc/10hjvwEgan-chinnydn, D. (2007). Funeral in Mali [Image]. Retrieved from:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/funeral-mali-gallery-1.11006?pmSlide=4Jones, Q. (2008) Over camdens dead body [Image]. Retrieved from:http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/over-camdens-dead-body/2008/09/24/1222217331341.htmlKitaab club kicks off! [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from:http://www.arabamericanny.org/tag/youth-2/Lynch, D. (n.d.). Refugee children, schools and communities. (2011). Schools, communities and social inclusion , 26. REFERENCESMamadou. (2008). Bozo girl in bamako [Image]. Retrieved from:http://everythingspossible.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/mali-aw-bissimila/ .Marginson, S. (n.d.). Pathways to failure: the educational disadvantage of children from low-income families.Retrieved from: www.ronaldhenderson.org.auMaya teachers [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from:http://childcarecenter.us/provider_detail/muslim_american_youth_academy_dearborn_mi#.UWex77WAJqUMcBrien, J.L. (2005). Educational needs and barriers for refugee students in the United States:A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 75(3), 329-364.McCarthy, M. (2011). Dedicated prayer rooms may be part of new approach by provinces schools [Image].Retrieved from: http://tinyurl.com/cm6l7etMcCombs, M.(2004). Setting the Agenda: Mass Media and Public Opinion. Cambridge, UK:Polity Press.McDevitt, T., & Ormrod, J. (2010). Child Development and Education. Upper Saddle River,New Jersey: Pearson EducationMohammad, Z. (2011) Growing up Muslim in a post 9/11 world [Image]. Retrieved from:http://www.indiacurrents.com/articles/2011/09/09/growing-muslim-post-911-worldlMurty, C. (2011). The christmas island detention centre [Image]. Retrieved from:http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-than-1000-children-in-locked-up-in-immigration-facilities/story-e6frf7l6-1225996705436Physical map Africa mali [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from: 27. REFERENCESPrimary league tables [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from:http://tinyurl.com/dyfr42hProtesters clash with police on a street in Sydneys central business district Saturday [Image] (n.d.).Retrieved from: http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=11228Rajda, J. (2006). Education and Social Justice. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.Refugee boat arriving 1985 [Image] (n.d.). Retrieved from:http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/goldandsilver/journey/pham.shtmlSome protesters carried a mock coffin with the name of Malis interim president [Image] (2012).Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18142488Strekalova, E., & Hoot, J.E. (2008). What is special about special needs of refugee students.Multicultural Education, 16(1), 21-24.Teachers complain of students falling asleep in class after watching television until midnight [Image] (2009).Retrieved from: http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Home/ArchiveUluru_ayers_rock_alice_springs_Australia101[Image](n.d.). Retrieved from:http://aussietopia.org/news/featured/australia-101-top-10-practical-realities-of-travel-in-australia/Woolfolk, A., & Margetts, K. (2010). Educational Psychology, 2nd Australian Edition.French Forest, NSW: Prentice Hall