Art teacher Lavonne Burgard’s fourth-grade dream of visiting the southernmost tip of Australia — Wilsons Promontory — finally came true when she spent “eight days short of a year” in Australia as an exchange teacher. “When I studied it (Wilsons Promontory) in geography in fourth grade. I imagined what it would be like to stand there,” said Burgard. “I didn’t think about actually going to Australia and I had incredible feelings (when I got there).” Burgard lived and taught grades seven through 10 in the state of Victoria in the city of Morwell from Jan. 1 to Dec. 22, 1997. She taught the classes of Robin Horvath, who came to teach at FHS for the year. According to Burgard, the students she taught in her makeup, fabrics and drawing classes in Australia are not much different than those at Flathead High School. “Kids are the same the world around,” said Burgard. “They go through the same kind of learning and growth process.” According to Burgard, students don’t really get serious about school until 11th and 12th grades. In her Australian school, students received pass or fail grade, and each student took 10 classes at a time, many of them electives. A difference Burgard noticed between her two schools is apathy in some Australian students. Because of the pass or fail system, Burgard said, “There are a lot more kids there who really don’t care.” A majority of Burgard’s time was spent in school, but she also had time to travel in Australia. During her vacations she was able to scuba dive, explore a rain forest, camp and visit Wilsons Promontory four times. According to Burgard, her favorite spot was “squeaky beach,” a place where the sand squeaks when people walk on it. Burgard said she felt her career also benefited from the trip. “I feel reenergized in my career,” said Burgard of her travels. “I see the world in a different way (now).” |
