Mojo ♻️

NSW will remove 65,000 years of Aboriginal #history from its years 7–10 syllabus. It’s a step backwards for #education #boganstate #firstnations #penalcolony #Boatpeople

https://theconversation.com/nsw-will-remove-65-000-years-of-aboriginal-history-from-its-years-7-10-syllabus-its-a-step-backwards-for-education-240111

NSW will remove 65,000 years of Aboriginal history from its years 7–10 syllabus. It’s a step backwards for education

By limiting the syllabus to events post-1788, the NSW Education Standards Authority indirectly sends students the message that Australia’s ‘history’ began at colonisation.

The Conversation
Oct 12, 2024 at 2:15amWeb
Show threadMojo ♻️Oct 12, 2024
I completed my schooling from 1970, including primary school, and my university degree, with zero knowledge about the First Nations people of Australia. The education system at the time completely overlooked the rich history, culture, and contributions of Aboriginal Australians. It's disheartening to see NSW taking a step backwards by removing 65,000 years of Aboriginal history from the years 7–10 syllabus. We should be moving forward in our understanding and respect for this nation's true history, not erasing it.
#education #history #auspol
Show threadMattWhyOct 12, 2024
@mojo The history of first nations people of Australia is not a Commonwealth topic in my mind
Its a local, council issue
To clarify, its where we build our houses, where we farm, where we have our recreation spaces. These are all places that have a history prior to colonisation that I'm guessing has not been recorded or readily accessible.
We can't fight Sky news or Murdoch prejudice but we can get local councils to open discussions and record conversations
Sure some councils will have entrenched negative views but I think the majority would move
It doesn't have to be a big headline thing, it has a better chance of success if its a local approach
Federal funding could be made available. Wouldn't require a referendum, wouldn't even require legislation
#education #history #auspol
Show threadStaffordOct 12, 2024

@andrijson @mojo i think perhaps the conflation of education and ways to produce cultural change is not helpful… nor is it clear why you don’t think it’s a “commonwealth topic” given the states set school curricula… maybe think of it as less of a political discussion, and refocus on the impact on quality school education outcomes.

Incorporating pre-colonial content into early high school education opens up students’ minds to a wide range of future study opportunities. A local context can be highly engaging, sparking interest in subjects like anthropology, zoology, cultural traditions, archaeology, and colonialism, to name a few.

Ancient Greek/Roman/Chinese/etc are very important, but offer students little opportunity to directly engage with historic sites (outside of a few exclusive schools that can afford to send their kids overseas) and traditions that are still practiced today.

Ultimately, if Australians better understand our cultural past on the way to getting a better overall education, then that is a fantastic outcome.

Show threadMojo ♻️Oct 12, 2024
@staffordvp @andrijson I completely agree with your point about the importance of incorporating pre-colonial content into early high school education to broaden students' horizons. It opens doors to so many areas of study, and having a local context makes it all the more engaging. But it's also crucial to acknowledge that by neglecting to teach about the world's oldest living culture, we are missing an essential part of our identity.
While ancient histories like Greek, Roman, or Chinese are important, they can't offer the same direct connection that Australia's First Nations history can provide. This isn't just about political debate; it's about recognising and valuing the profound history and culture right here on our soil. Ignoring it in our curriculum not only weakens the quality of education but also fails to respect and preserve the oldest culture on earth.
Show threadStaffordOct 12, 2024
@mojo we appear completely agreed on all that. I guess my point to yourself @mojo would be that there are obviously unfortunately a lot of Australians who do not see anything to be gained from learning about this ancient and long surviving culture. I aim to show them that there’s a lot to be gained that already rests on common ground, without lecturing them about why their trusted sources might be wrong. I’m hardly a trusted source, just some guy on the internet.