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Notes from the Samoan
Youth Conference
by P. Hutton
Samoan 4th fastest growing
ethnic community therefore problems will multiply.
Surveys from cities overseas
eg San Francisco. Samoan community has:
- low living standards
- overcrowding
- alcoholism
- health problems
Problems
- lack of backup from
parents in education, career choices, etc
- suppression of children
family dominated by adults, chief, pastor, etc
- children keep school
lives and activities from parents:
- *parents should
get involved in school activities like music
- *educating parents:
may feel intimidated by other people telling them what to do
with their children
- fat women: kids
are ashamed of fat parents. In Samoa fat is beautiful, kids
should be aware of this
- parents are not
accustomed to the variety of teaching methods used in Australian
schools: complain about costs of excursions etc.
- teachers: lack understanding
of cultural background
- students dont ask
properly for help
- need trained counsellors
- expectations of
kids eg ministers daughter has to spend time entertaining constant
visitors: lack of time for study
- Samoans not study-conscious:
less emphasis on career importance
- church parents give
a lot to church
Culture and generation
gap
- dont want to lose
culture
- Samoan way of thinking
doesnt apply here: causes kids to be separated from their parents
- very important,
but overdone parents push too much
- should adjust to
make practical in Australian society
- maintenance of family
unity important
- womens place in
home: very sexist, very male dominated
Language
- all the kids think
they should learn Samoan, usually understand it but do not speak
it
- parents speak Samoan
to them
- if lose language,
then lose communication with parents
- should set up school
Samoan language
Youth contacts: social
activities
- not enough youth
stuff only church based
- would help strengthen
Samoan community
- should be: sporting
activities, Samoan club
Alcohol
- Samoan male has
greater problem than Australian men tend to get violent when
drunk
Sex education
Education
- need to adjust curriculum
to meet cultural needs
- subjects on cultural
issues should be part of curriculum
- teachers should
be made aware of diversity of cultures
- do work experience
early years
Problems
- information should
be available in both languages so parents can understand
- self confidence:
young people not given encouragement to express own views: disadvantage
at school
- lack of interest
in extra-curricula activity: should be more social activity
- Samoan students
have difficulty in allocating time
- teachers attitudes:
should be aware that Samoan parents dont show interest in studies
or give support
- parents do not attend
school meetings
- career counselling:
methods of counselling disadvantage kids with limited English
and cultural differences
School dropouts
Causes:
- pressure from parents
to conform to what parents want to do
- decisions made without
giving much consideration to kids welfare
- not enough money
- leave school early
to find work
- too preoccupied
with own upbringing, want to force this on the children
- pressure from children:
not motivated
- kids look for excuses
and blame others instead of looking at their own failure
- peer pressure: not
concentrating on study
- boredom
- reluctance to seek
advice, counselling
- cant cope with studies
- communication gap:
students/parents; teachers/parents
- teachers lack of
commitment and understanding difficulties of Samoan youth
Training or retraining
(Further Education)
- lack of information
- need more relevant
courses
- fees or criteria
too difficult/rigid
- parents do not encourage
youth to seek career path
- lack of bilingual
information
- lack of parent support
to seek information
Financial
- church: too much
emphasis on money contributions to the church
- feel embarrassed
that they might donate the least
- eating habits: preoccupation
with eating
- gambling
- debt settlement
not a priority
- bank accounts: kids
not encouraged to save money or have bank accounts
- below average income
Teachers should put aside
time to question kids in private: kids are too shy to answer
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