Students (and Education minister) ignorant of our history

[flappist]

Originally Posted by sourbastard

Australian history would need to be at best, mildly interesting, before trying to make anyone digest it in large doses.

Captain Cook arrives
Shoots a bunch of folk
Sets up a prison colony
and they all lived happily ever after

See? Boring.

Now as its a countries duty to rewrite history until its exciting and politically uplifting lets rewrite a bit.

Captain Cook travels back in time and defeats an advanced super smart civilization of wombat warriors to make his conquest of australia easier.
He is unable to beat them alone, so enlists the help of Mario Kazaar and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who make a movie about the exploits after many explosions and gutteral yelling.

Captain Cook returns to his present time and kicks crap out of everyone using nothing more then a sack and a 12 inch black rubber donger.

Matthew Flinders arrives to establish the first KFC farm in Albany WA in around 1790.

John Howard, Australias greatest prime minister is born in the same year. 2 years later the same mother gives birth to Bob Hawke in an ironic twist of political family fate and anguish.

Bob hawke defeats john howard with a winged keel, but John is resurrected years later after a necromancer chants the sacred incantation of GST 100 times in a current affair interview after trying to work out how much to charge Mike Willesee for cake. Later Mike Willesee refuses to pay for the cake and demands sex from the necromancer.

Which brings us to today.

See kids? Wasnt that more interesting?

Bullsh!t Dave, KFC farm was in 1798, the plans went into council for approval in 1790 on the new "fast track" system.

[Casper]

what flavour cake did Mike Willesee get?

[Sourbastard]

Originally Posted by flappist

Bullsh!t Dave, KFC farm was in 1798, the plans went into council for approval in 1790 on the new "fast track" system.

thats it, you have had this coming for awhile flap.

I declare a fatwah on flappist.

[XCSEDAN]

Originally Posted by Polyal

XYSEDAN, you going to uni? Yr12 really isn't that full on, well done on doing it but be prepared for some more "fun"

Nah mate, i have to much difculty learning, i cant absorb information unless im really interested in it, which actually really sucks. i thort everyone was like this till i went to the doc and he sent me 2 sumone else, then they told me i had a learning diffculty....
meh ahh well lifes life i spose.

[LTDHO]

I agree, Australian history should be mandatory. I don’t remember doing Australian history, just other countries and I went to an school here!!

We should do as much as possible and show where Australia has come, etc.

[pb02]

I think Australian History should be mandatory. I was never really taught about things like the charge of the 800 light horsemen in 1917. If you don't know about this you need to read up on it. Probably the most inspiring and amazing battles ever fought!
800 Australian infantry on horses managed to do something that 50000 british soldiers with tank support, the crusades, and Napoleon couldn't do!!

Might help some people realize just what the ANZAC spirit is all about.

[bArNsY]

What about the Bushrangers?
Captain Thunderbolt and Ned Kelly!

[bEAn86]

Well i think they should also have a test of everyone old and if you fail it you get fined 2g's. That should keep all of aus up to date on the past! It doesnt matter what you learn in life, if you dont use it you lose it.

[vztrt]

I think just a basic understanding of our history based on significant events. Than if the student is interested he/she can pursue this in further detail. Wouldn't really matter a lot of students are too busy on their mobile phone's or swearing at the teachers to learn anything (I finished VCE in 2001 so things might have changed).

[flappist]

Originally Posted by sourbastard

thats it, you have had this coming for awhile flap.

I declare a fatwah on flappist.

But I have been on jenny craig and lost 40 kilos, it has to be a skinnywah now.

[Fairlane]

Originally Posted by Polyal

It reminds me of Arts people at uni. Say you have had a few drinks, stuff around, and then some idiot starts crapping on about WW2. He goes on and on about some useless detail and seems to know alot. Then another person will start arguing and next thing you know you have the worlds most boring conversation.

And at the end of the day they are just repeating crap they think they remember form a text book...

And about what? Something that happen x years ago...woohoo!

Jeez thats a bit harsh Polyal, we Arts students amy not always be relevant, but its certainly not always useless crap.

On the other point the state of Australian History in Australian schools is nothing short of disgraceful. Its marginally acceptable at Primary School, but hopefully inadequate in High School level- Im not advocating forced teaching of history in yr11/12, but it is impossible in many schools to do Australian History in yr11/12. The debate is even more concerning when youve got the ignorant (ie Carmel Tebbet) and the mad (Keith Windshuttle/ John Howard), fighting over the direction of Australian history.

But damnit, everyone these days is concerned about Americanisation- Well I think the teaching of Australian History is super important- Young kids need to learn about some of the great (and not so great) events of Australian history- Our History IS NOT BORING, just poorly taught and poorly interpreted.


*This is a rushed post, so excuse the dodgy punctuation

[Steffo]

I used to love history in school, was my best subject, and I still do. But I know stuff all about Australian history. I found it to be the most boring part of history. They could focus on slightly more interesting aspects of it then what they do now.

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Yes, well MRC relay chat and the mobile phone put an end to that, didnt they....

You may be supprised to read alot of MIRC logs to see the english used there in. (well channels apart from #sikbrouleh or #dose)

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by bEAn86

Well i think they should also have a test of everyone old and if you fail it you get fined 2g's. .

Good idea. 2nd offence is deportation to NZ.

[Psycho Chicken]

Now I know why national identity is dying (or dead). No one cares.

I'll admit I'm a history buff. But I still can't figure out why I learnt all about the Russian Revolution and Hitler's rise to power in school, yet SFA on Australia.

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Now I know why national identity is dying (or dead). No one cares.

I'll admit I'm a history buff. But I still can't figure out why I learnt all about the Russian Revolution and Hitler's rise to power in school, yet SFA on Australia.

Or when aus history was it part of the teaching scheme stopped arround 1870. Aparenly nothing happened from 1870 to 2006

[Psycho Chicken]

Really? As far as I was taught Australia has only lived through a decade. 1776-1780, 1901, 1914/1915 and 1941-1945.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Unless you're going to be a historian is there any need or any interest in knowing our history.

Don't get me wrong I love this country but I couldn't be arsed learning about shit that happend many moons ago.

Trouble is the shit that happened many moons ago led to the shit that happens today and in probability to much of the shit that will happen in the future, and people who don't look at the lessons from the shit that happened many moons ago wonder why we're in the same shit today and can't work out how to get out of the shit in the future.

I do history for a living and have to thank you MITCHAY, I couldn't have expressed it better myself!

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Now I know why national identity is dying (or dead). No one cares.

I'll admit I'm a history buff. But I still can't figure out why I learnt all about the Russian Revolution and Hitler's rise to power in school, yet SFA on Australia.

Probably because those were very important world defining/changing events, whereas there's nothing quite as important in Australian history.

[Sourbastard]

Originally Posted by new2ford

Trouble is the shit that happened many moons ago led to the shit that happens today and in probability to much of the shit that will happen in the future, and people who don't look at the lessons from the shit that happened many moons ago wonder why we're in the same shit today and can't work out how to get out of the shit in the future.

I do history for a living and have to thank you MITCHAY, I couldn't have expressed it better myself!

learning from past lessons isnt the way forward in todays age. For examples view US foreign policy. the future for the planet is ignorance, and making the same mistakes over and over again until you start making new mistakes, and then repeat them over and over again.

[Psycho Chicken]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Probably because those were very important world defining/changing events, whereas there's nothing quite as important in Australian history.

Alright, bring on the NWO. Tear down the borders. No more countries, let's form the one socialist utopia.

How about we teach Australian before the world. Afterall, we do live here.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Alright, bring on the NWO. Tear down the borders. No more countries, let's form the one socialist utopia.

How about we teach Australian before the world. Afterall, we do live here.

There are reasons we learn what we learn in school beyond our control. We learn what whoever is in charge wants us to learn to shape us into whatever they may want us to be. It's for that reason Australian history is neglected while other things are emphasised on.

Now what the people in charge want us to turn out like, that's a question I certainly can't answer.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by sourbastard

learning from past lessons isnt the way forward in todays age.

Mmmm where have I heard that before in the past! The Americans are a bit shrewder than that actually, and most other major powers. And its not just politics. I've seen industrial objects designed and fail because nobody bothered to look back and see that it had been tried before and failed. Life isn't just the present. A bit more education that helps everybody see the wider context (in time) will help them do better what they want to do in life.

That's what its about, understanding context. I see a lot of discussion about memorising events and dates without understanding why. This is traditional school 'history' at its worst, boring stuff that should be on the way out, not what history is about.

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by sourbastard

learning from past lessons isnt the way forward in todays age. For examples view US foreign policy.

To learn from a mistake requires one to acknowledge that a mistake has occured.

I mean - zionism has worked a treat hasnt it? Not the cause of too many dramas...

Alright, bring on the NWO. Tear down the borders. No more countries, let's form the one socialist utopia.

Damn pinkos - how come no one ever asks for a fascist utopia???

[Lumpen Proletariat]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Damn pinkos - how come no one ever asks for a fascist utopia???

I'm all for one...as long as I'm in charge.


I think Australian History should be taught but more than the Captain Cook and Gallipoli Landing's we currently receive. These are, no doubt, immensely important point's on our historical timeline but there are other too. Gold in Australia. The moves to federation. A Pound a Pound for wool. Populate or perish. 10 pound poms. The Snowy Scheme. Would Australia as we know it today be a nation without these events?

We need more education on the influence of Gold in Australia, which in turn brings in non-anglo influences which in turn leads to the concept of multiculturalism (distinct to the politically correct meaning) and it's impact in Australia. The Macassan and Indonesian influence on the top end?

There is a need for the 'Black Armband' history to be learnt, there is no escaping this, though we must also educate on white stolen children, on racisim and discrimination. These are all part of australian history, not just towards Aboriginals, but towards Afghan's, Chinese, 'New Australians', Catholics, Protestants etc! Without education on how divisive we have always been as a nation we will never, ever have the opportunity to overcome it.

Most primary school students could tell you which european first landed in the Carribean but couldn't tell you the first anglo explorer's to find a passage through the blue mountains.


Even to this day, we see elected politician's with no understanding of the seperation of powers. Joh, famously, had no idea, but barely a week ago, Peter Debnham (sp?) was still thoroughly confused but it's principles. What hope do Student's have of understanding political working's in Australia if the politician's themselves don't?


A bit of a rant I'm sorry, but nothing irk's me more than someone my age who can sing along to the US national anthem but can't participate on an informed discussion on Australian politics. Someone who can names the boroughs of New York but not what river our capital cities are on.

I am biased though, the only thing I looked forward too for my 18th was finally the ability to and the privilege to vote.




Lumpy :

[GXL078]

The "stolen generation" gave birth to the "stealing generation" which has now produced the "stoned generation"... Its a viscious cycle, must be the government's fault, all of it.

[gozza]

Originally Posted by Steffo

There are reasons we learn what we learn in school beyond our control. We learn what whoever is in charge wants us to learn to shape us into whatever they may want us to be. It's for that reason Australian history is neglected while other things are emphasised on.

Now what the people in charge want us to turn out like, that's a question I certainly can't answer.

Man thats freaky...I believe that too


Just a tool to conform new blood into the society they want

[Iphido]

Australian history sucks because of the way its being taught and the sigma associated with it. Australia history is boring.

I think that is B.S. Australian history rocks.

I think more importance should be placed on the use of history in modern times.

But history isn't taught like that.

[Hawk]

The lack of basic fundamental knowledge about our country and its institutions was evident in a subject I had at uni this semester (called Government Business Relations). It dealt with, among other things, the make-up of a state, constitutions, the executive, legislature and judiciary with discussion about Australia and its make-up. The silence, as they say, was deafening. A vast proportion of people had very little idea about what the subject was dealing with, with heaps of people struggling in the assessment and discussions. I have to say that I didn't have the best knowledge of it all (and I was educated in NSW) but I had learnt a bit back in High School that slowly came back to me.