Bourke Public School: The context

Bourke is a town of about 3000 situated in far west New South Wales on the Darling River. When you cross it going west, you're officially 'out back'. Its hot country, but not desert. There are thousands of hectares of irrigated land under cotton, orchards and vineyards.

Bourke Public has an enrolment of about 280, half of whom are Aboriginal students. There is a high rate of transience among its students. During 2000, 100 students enrolled, 31 after leaving once, and 15 exited.

It looks like a normal school, apart from the two train carriages at its rear. The carriages, refurbished and outfitted with enough high quality computers for a class, is the 'Literacy Train'.

About the Literacy Train…

Paul Loxley talks about some features of the context…