Summer Heights High Analysis

I firstly want to thank you for this opportunity to speak on behalf of my peers, and represent the high school students of this state. I recognise the importance of choosing the right material to be studied, and am honoured to put forward my recommendation for new material today. Summer Heights High is a satirical show created by Chris Lilley. What is it about you may ask? Well, it is a show which follows three main characters, Jonah Takalua - an Islander troublemaker, Ja'mie King - a private school girl on exchange to a public school and Mr G. - a flamboyant drama teacher. After watching an entire season of the show, researching media articles and a deep evaluation, in which I will go into more detail soon, I believe that this show is very
Lilley draws attention to the two tiers of education through the use of incongruity. When Ja'mie says, "We've got like one burns victim, but like we don't have any mentally retarded people" after she sees students in wheelchairs, reveals the culture of exclusivity which exist in private schools. Ja'mie, in this context, comments on the lack of disability students at her private school, and draws attention to the discriminatory nature of private schools. Lilley has utilised this technique effectively to comment on the differences between the private and public schooling system. He points out that private schools can exclude students who attend their school, and that only children with wealthy parents can afford the cultural advantages which comes with a private school. This is effective as it is very easily understood by students, such as myself. While my school does not have a large percentage of disabled students either, we can relate to the difference in culture between private and public school students from our daily encounters. For those who has children in here, have you not debated whether to send your child to a private school, because you want them to reap these "cultural advantages" and be more academically ahead because they are in a system with only other normal children?

In summary, Summer Heights High should be introduced into high school to teach satire, as it is an effective tool through its excellent use of satirical techniques in highlighting societal issues. Summer Heights High is an engaging, relatable and funny show, and in turn will increase the involvement and enthusiasm levels in English classes and help them learn better. Thank you for your