Ayla
21-11-2008, 04:53 PM
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24678230-12149,00.html
Push for English causes Aboriginal backlash
Natasha Robinson | November 20, 2008
Article from: The Australian
GOVERNMENTS risk poisoning their relationship with Aboriginal people by clumsily pushing through a threadbare policy mandating that children in remote schools are predominantly taught in English, Arnhem Land's most experienced Aboriginal educator has warned.
Yalmay Yunupingu, a teacher at Yirrkala Community Education Centre for 32 years and one of the rare remote-based Aboriginal teachers who holds a mainstream diploma of education qualification, has broken ranks with her brother-in-law. Galarrwuy Yunupingu. to condemn the English-focused schools policy that effectively spells the death of bilingual education.
Ms Yunupingu's criticisms came as federal Education Minister Julia Gillard threw her support behind the Northern Territory Government's policy, following opposition from race discrimination commissioner Tom Calma.
"English is the language of further learning and English is the language of work, and if we want indigenous kids who are growing up today right across the Northern Territory, right across the nation, to have a chance to do an undergraduate degree, do a postgraduate degree, go out and get a good job, then people need to read and write English," Ms Gillard said.
"They need to be able to do it at the level that further education requires, and at the level that work requires."
Ms Yunupingu, one of the original proponents of bilingual education in schools, said the Territory Government had not consulted with those who would be affected by the new policy, which was poorly understood.
The Territory Government had not articulated the new policy beyond announcing a new requirement that the first four hours of schooling would be conducted in English.
"Teaching the first four hours of English -- we don't know what it really means, it could mean teaching English all day," Ms Yunupingu said. "It's like spitting on the bilingual program and devaluing the indigenous children's first language without any respect. Language is our living treasure and our survival, we nurture our language just like a child."
Ms Yunupingu criticised the way the Territory Government had done a U-turn on bilingual education with little warning, condemning the new policy as assimilationist.
"I've heard everyone say English is a language of power, because it is a universal language. I'll tell you something -- that indigenous language is a language of power too."
Yolngu leaders are divided over the issue of English in schools. Mr Yunupingu, an Arnhem Land powerbroker, believes teaching children in English does not lead to a loss of culture.
Territory Deputy Chief Minister Marion Scrymgour denied the Government had failed to consult Aboriginal people on the English-focused policy. "There has been a lot of consultation with a lot of those communities," Ms Scrymgour said.
Push for English causes Aboriginal backlash
Natasha Robinson | November 20, 2008
Article from: The Australian
GOVERNMENTS risk poisoning their relationship with Aboriginal people by clumsily pushing through a threadbare policy mandating that children in remote schools are predominantly taught in English, Arnhem Land's most experienced Aboriginal educator has warned.
Yalmay Yunupingu, a teacher at Yirrkala Community Education Centre for 32 years and one of the rare remote-based Aboriginal teachers who holds a mainstream diploma of education qualification, has broken ranks with her brother-in-law. Galarrwuy Yunupingu. to condemn the English-focused schools policy that effectively spells the death of bilingual education.
Ms Yunupingu's criticisms came as federal Education Minister Julia Gillard threw her support behind the Northern Territory Government's policy, following opposition from race discrimination commissioner Tom Calma.
"English is the language of further learning and English is the language of work, and if we want indigenous kids who are growing up today right across the Northern Territory, right across the nation, to have a chance to do an undergraduate degree, do a postgraduate degree, go out and get a good job, then people need to read and write English," Ms Gillard said.
"They need to be able to do it at the level that further education requires, and at the level that work requires."
Ms Yunupingu, one of the original proponents of bilingual education in schools, said the Territory Government had not consulted with those who would be affected by the new policy, which was poorly understood.
The Territory Government had not articulated the new policy beyond announcing a new requirement that the first four hours of schooling would be conducted in English.
"Teaching the first four hours of English -- we don't know what it really means, it could mean teaching English all day," Ms Yunupingu said. "It's like spitting on the bilingual program and devaluing the indigenous children's first language without any respect. Language is our living treasure and our survival, we nurture our language just like a child."
Ms Yunupingu criticised the way the Territory Government had done a U-turn on bilingual education with little warning, condemning the new policy as assimilationist.
"I've heard everyone say English is a language of power, because it is a universal language. I'll tell you something -- that indigenous language is a language of power too."
Yolngu leaders are divided over the issue of English in schools. Mr Yunupingu, an Arnhem Land powerbroker, believes teaching children in English does not lead to a loss of culture.
Territory Deputy Chief Minister Marion Scrymgour denied the Government had failed to consult Aboriginal people on the English-focused policy. "There has been a lot of consultation with a lot of those communities," Ms Scrymgour said.