Educational issues for children of itinerant seasonal farm workers: a case study in an Australian context

Abstract

Although many Australian children change schools during the course of a school year, the children of itinerant seasonal farm workers can move residences as well as schools on a regular basis, often two or three times annually. Surprisingly, however, educational itinerancy has not been widely researched, particularly in Australian contexts. The paper uses a case study approach to discuss some of the issues that affect the literacy learning of the children from one family, the members of which follow summer and winter harvesting seasons across state borders. Through this approach, the voices of the children and their families are heard alongside those of their teachers and other school personnel.

Notes

Robyn Henderson is a Lecturer in primary literacy and language in the School of Cultural and Language Studies at the Queensland University of Technology. Her main research interests are in the areas of literacy, diversity and disadvantage.

Correspondence should be addressed to Robyn Henderson: School of Cultural and Language Studies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059; e‐mail: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robyn Henderson

Robyn Henderson is a Lecturer in primary literacy and language in the School of Cultural and Language Studies at the Queensland University of Technology. Her main research interests are in the areas of literacy, diversity and disadvantage. Correspondence should be addressed to Robyn Henderson: School of Cultural and Language Studies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059; e‐mail: [email protected]