"Good morning, Mr Sarra" launched

Republished here by courtesy of the National Indigenous Times

The remarkable true story of one man’s fight to turn the tide of low expectations of Indigenous children.

Good Morning, Mr Sarra is the inspiring life story of an Indigenous boy from a country town who defied expectations to become one of the most outspoken and recognised educators in the country.

When Chris Sarra arrived as the first Aboriginal principal of Cherbourg State School in 1998, it was a time of high hopes but low expectations in Indigenous education.

Over the next six years, he transformed the school into a national success story.
From his childhood as the youngest of ten in a large Italian– Aboriginal family, Chris was taught to be proud of who he was and where he came from. Yet, Chris experienced first-hand many of the issues faced by Indigenous students throughout their schooling, including a crippling lack of belief in their ability to succeed.

Entering university, Chris found encouragement and inspiration from various lecturers and mentors. He quickly became determined to defy the expectations the system usually held for young Indigenous students and, in so doing, to change them for others. His role at Cherbourg finally gave him a chance to put his philosophy into practice.

It wasn’t easy, Cherbourg Elder ‘Pop John’ Stanley says, ‘He had to fight the system, he had to fight the community, he had to fight the teachers, he was criticised, he was threatened, he was punched.’

However, under Sarra’s leadership the school became nationally acclaimed for its pursuit of the ‘Strong and Smart’ philosophy, espousing a strong and positive sense of what it means to be Aboriginal in today’s Australian society and proving that Indigenous students can achieve outcomes comparable to other students.

The successful efforts of teachers, children, elders and the Cherbourg community to increase attendance and outcomes created a ripple which Sarra believes has changed the toxic tide of low expectations of Indigenous children in schools throughout Australia. In 2009, he established the Stronger Smarter Institute which strives to share its nationally acclaimed ‘strong and smart’ philosophy with other school and community leaders throughout Australia and, potentially, the world.

"The one thing I am certain about is that when it comes to making a difference in Aboriginal education, we now know what we need to know. We know that in schools embracing a stronger smarter approach, the seemingly intractable challenge of engaging and transforming the lives of Indigenous children, and poor white children, can be relegated to an undignified history where they belong." – Chris Sarra

In Good Morning, Mr Sarra, Dr Chris Sarra is refreshingly honest in his reflections of his life and work, including the controversies that have dogged him over the years. His unwavering optimism and his unfaltering passion and enthusiasm for Indigenous education, overcoming negative perceptions of Indigenous students, and the need for high expectations in schools (oh, and rugby league) is undeniable and contagious. Where others see only problems, he sees solutions.

Chris said, ‘As Cherbourg State School’s first Aboriginal principal, I was able to lead in such a way that would see its students, parents and community achieve well beyond expectation. This in turn would see other schools and communities licensed to have high expectations and believe in themselves and their right to a quality education. Ultimately this would change schooling right across the entire country, and without getting too carried away, in my quietest thoughts I think it is humbling, yet pretty cool to be described as the man who changed the tide of low expectations of Indigenous children in schools. I hope others can be inspired by my story.’

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate praised the book and Chris.

“Good Morning, Mr Sarra is an inspiration for all Australians. Its message of hope is a shining light we can all be grateful for. Chris Sarra’s vision is proof that if we believe in young children, we give them license to believe in themselves. And when young children believe they can be “stronger and smarter”, that brightens the future in very honourable ways ... Teachers are leaders of young hearts and minds, of classrooms and communities. In embracing the Stronger Smarter philosophy, you have rejected two centuries of stereotypes and despair. You have rejected the lie that “we have tried everything and nothing works.” And that will save lives, because despair [kills] people as surely as a gun or a knife.”