Thread: Teaching our history sounds like an idea

The certainly gives a very wide spread of what might be taught. I had imagined it would be far me regimented than that particularly within a state system.

My memory of Australian History from school was something akin to "we were very bad to the Aborigines" again and again and again.
I guess it's telling that I did 4 years of Australian History and can recall two thirds of bugger all about what we actually did in those classes, but I can remember heaps about my 2 years of Ancient History which I loathed with a passion.

I can't remember getting any Australian History at school, we had lots about the kings and queens of England, the Magna Carta etc, Columbus, Vasco da Gama but as for Oz, nothing.

Funny I read a lot of Australian history at school because it /wasn't/ required. I have a huge collection of explorer diaries and a lot of contradictory works on Ben Hall. They made a huge impact as it was the first time I really found such differing opinions in formal books... Up until then it all seems like there was one right answer. (I would have been about 12).

I'm with isuzurover and Judy too. I will take responsibility for teaching my kids about this stuff, as my father did for me. (And his father to him, too!)

Thinking of it now following explorers and learning about the areas that bush rangers operated thought me how to read maps as well! Sitting kids in a line and forcing it down will kill the magic and limit context. Throw your kids in the landy and read through the diaries and stories as visit places - bring history alive! It will have such an impact

Originally Posted by flagg

Funny I read a lot of Australian history at school because it /wasn't/ required. I have a huge collection of explorer diaries and a lot of contradictory works on Ben Hall. They made a huge impact as it was the first time I really found such differing opinions in formal books... Up until then it all seems like there was one right answer. (I would have been about 12).

I'm with isuzurover and Judy too. I will take responsibility for teaching my kids about this stuff, as my father did for me. (And his father to him, too!)

Thinking of it now following explorers and learning about the areas that bush rangers operated thought me how to read maps as well! Sitting kids in a line and forcing it down will kill the magic and limit context. Throw your kids in the landy and read through the diaries and stories as visit places - bring history alive! It will have such an impact

Sadly, not all kids get that opportunity. Whilst I would certainly agree that parents today leave too much parenting to teachers I would disagree that that extends to Australian History. My love affair with bush rangers started when I was about 12 as well...in history class. I was fascinated with Ned and it took 30 years before I got to Old Melbourne Goal and about 35 before I got to Glenrowan.

When my second was in 2nd or 3rd year they covered Burke and Wills. The teacher asked if anyone had been to the Dig Tree. Sal was the only person in the class to put her hand up but refrained from telling the teacher that she had actually been there 3 times

I want Bobslandies to do tours of the Australian bushranger sites, that boy has a huge knowledge of them.

He even has a complete set of replicas of all the Kelly armour, not that he'll tell you. Very few people have had their hands on all the original pieces in the various collections around the country.

I also recently read an excellent book based on the diaries of Ludwig Leichardt. My local library has quite a collection of Austrlian history.

A syllabus is only a guideline - a good teacher brings it to life.

Gotta say though, there are many kids out there who just aren't interested in anything that requires extensive reading or can't be found on Facebook. As one student said recently when asked to do some reading, 'Just tell me the answers so I can memorise them and pass the test." Not surprisingly, he failed.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

Simple the answer is in the book you might have too read 3 or 4 to get the right answer

I did ancient and modern history for HSC but very little oz history