The roles of rural teachers

Abstract

Teachers can be influential in shaping the aspirations of rural children, directly (by talking to them about possible future careers and lifestyles, both within and outside the classroom setting) and indirectly (as rare representatives of educated people in a rural setting). However, many teachers in remote rural settings demonstrate little commitment to their charges and are frequently absent, in part because they lack conviction that they can make a difference in children’s lives. Teachers need preparation, support and supervision to become better facilitators of learning, sources of information about potential career pathways and as embodied signifiers of education in a rural community.