School Farms: Anachronism or Crucial Community Bridge?

• In Event: 42.083 - Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: 42.083-2 - Reconsidering Spatial Inequity in the 21st Century

Abstract

School farms have a long history in Australia and much of the recent history can be traced back to the Area School movement that began in Tasmania in the 1930s. In this analysis we report on a qualitative study of 22 school farms operating in rural Tasmania all of which are threatened by current educational policy directions. We advance the argument that these facilities represent the central cultural and social importance of agriculture to community and identity in rural communities. We further argue that these school farm facilities enhance educational relevance and student engagement in rural schools, improve low levels of rural and regional student retention, and increase the positive profile of agriculture.

Author

• Michael J. Corbett, University of Tasmania