Objectives in the Education of Aborigines : Some Aboriginal Views
Abstract
A variety of statements made by Aboriginal people and groups about what they see as the aims of education is presented. There are diverse emphases but a common thread relates to the education of children in both cultures and a wish to see the children grow in competence in Western skills and knowledge but also retain their own culture and its associated knowledge, skills and values.
The following sets of statements, made by people from various locations throughout Australia, exhibit concern for the achievement of the basic skills, for education that will permit job access (including emphasis by some on education to tertiary level), for the development of skills to live in the modern industrialized world and/or to contribute to their own communities, and concerns expressed by many that children learn about their own culture, some seeing this as part of the school program and others believing it should be taught by the Aboriginal people themselves.
References
Aboriginal Consultative Group to the Schools Commission, 1975: Education for Aborigines. Mimeo.
Aboriginal Consultative Group to the Schools Commission, 1975: Kimberley investigation. Draft report. Mimeo.
Coker J., 1975: Bilingual education in South Australian Aboriginal Schools. The Aboriginal Child at School, 3,5, 53– 56.
Harney B., 1969: Life among the Aborigines. Rigby Ltd., Adelaide.
Munyarryun G., 1976: Community involvement in Aboriginal education. The Aboriginal Child at School, 4,1, 56–58 .
National Aboriginal Education Committee, 1980: National Aboriginal Education Committee rationale, aims and objectives in Aboriginal education. Mimeo.
O’Brien M., 1979: Between two cultures: an educational view. In Berndt R.M. and Berndt C.H. (Eds): Aborigines of the West: Their Past and Their Present. University of W.A. Press.
Penny H.H., 1975 : The Training of Pitjantjatjara Aborigines for Greater Teaching Responsibilities in South Australian Tribal Schools. Report and Recommendations to the Education Department of South Australia. Printed by Education Dept. of S.A.
Penny H.H., 1980 : The Training of Aborigines for Teaching in the Aboriginal Schools of the Northern Territory. A report to the Northern Territory Department of Education, N.A.E.C. and E.R.D.C.
