Class language limit 'death of our culture': Aboriginal school head (fwd link)

[Nick Thieberger]

There is some discussion of the issue of the Northern Territory's
policies on bilingual education for indigenous students on the great
blog 'Transient Languages and Cultures'
http://blogs.usyd.edu.au/elac/2008/11/local_and_national_action_for.html

Also a petition by FATSIL here:
http://www.fatsil.org.au/component/option,com_joomlapetition/Itemid,/catid,1/func,viewcategory/

A very good article on the benefits of  bilingual education by David
Wilkins is here:
http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2008/10/wilkins.html

A radio program on the importance of bilingual ed. by Patrick McConvell is here:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/linguafranca/stories/2008/2410952.htm

Nick


2008/11/17 Mia Kalish <MiaKalish at learningforpeople.us>:
> Actually, forcing classes to be taught in English actually works against student learning, because the references and foundation are unfamiliar, and there is no prior knowledge. Education research is showing over and over (and over) that students will develop superficial skills in English, but these are not sufficient to support them in learning disciplinary knowledge. Also, forcing English classes creates a greater demand for non-Indigenous/Aboriginal teachers and less for Native speakers. This depresses the community because people who do get the kinds of degrees that enable them to teach cannot find positions near their homes, families and communities, and further erodes the culture.
>
> Is there anything we can do as a community to help?
>
> Mia
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Indigenous Languages and Technology [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of phil cash cash
> Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 10:40 AM
> To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: [ILAT] Class language limit 'death of our culture': Aboriginal school head (fwd link)
>
> Class language limit 'death of our culture': Aboriginal school head
>
> Posted Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:31am AEDT
> ABC News
> Australia
>
> The head of a remote Aboriginal school in the Northern Territory says the
> Government's plan to limit the hours classes can be taught in traditional
> languages will not help students achieve better results and could lead to the
> death of their culture.
>
> Access full article below:
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/16/2420934.htm?section=australia
>