Over the last couple of weeks I have immersed myself in histories written by Aboriginal people. These historians not only revealed aspects of Australian history of which I had been previously unaware, they also made me ponder the process of historical research and writing. This is why we need to read histories written by people from a different cultural background to our … [Read more...] about Book Review: My Bundjalung People by Ruby Langford Ginibi
New South Wales
Teaching Quality – Discovering the Teacher’s Role in Learning
The phrase 'teacher quality' is "judgmental, simplistic.. and undermining of real teacher professionalism", argued Melbourne high school English teacher, Peter Job, recently. The current debate about 'teacher quality' portrayed teachers as "static commodities like cars or vegetables", he observed. Instead of 'teacher quality', he advocated the discussion should be instead … [Read more...] about Teaching Quality – Discovering the Teacher’s Role in Learning
Book Review – Fight for Liberty and Freedom: The origins of Australian Aboriginal activism
If this country is to attain any sense of maturity it must first of all deal with its past and come to terms with it and, through that process, provide a platform where both Black and white can walk together to a shared future of hope, prosperity and equality. Sadly, the whole debate has degenerated into an exercise of political and intellectual point scoring with little … [Read more...] about Book Review – Fight for Liberty and Freedom: The origins of Australian Aboriginal activism
Book Review – The Paper War by Anna Johnston
Sydney Town was young and rambunctious when the ship carrying an ambitious missionary docked in 1824. Into this colonial outpost stepped Lancelot Edward Threlkeld, determined to make his mark in the world, eager to convert Aboriginal people to Christianity and confident that his way was the right way. He went on to establish an Aboriginal mission at Lake Macquarie which … [Read more...] about Book Review – The Paper War by Anna Johnston
Top 10 Posts for 2011
Blogs and cricket have something important in common - statistics! This week I've enjoyed spending lots of time with my family visiting from interstate and watching the exciting Boxing Day test match between India and Australia. It was a great example of test cricket - four days of see-sawing between the teams until Australia finally won. I tried to write a blog post while … [Read more...] about Top 10 Posts for 2011