Speaking one's mother tongue is vital

[Nick Thieberger]

Speaking one's mother tongue is vital
Noel Pearson From: The Australian May 21, 2011 12:00AM
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/speaking-ones-mother-tongue-is-vital/story-e6frgd0x-1226059932608

Education in Australian languages is not new; but teaching in
Australian languages should not be done primarily because some
children know too little English when they start school. It should
also be done where children know more English, or predominantly or
only English: this is the principle of the culture domain in Cape
York, where languages are dying. Teaching children in Australian
languages is only one instance of speaking to children in Australian
languages so that they learn them as their mother tongues. If children
do not learn Australian languages as mother tongues, Australian
cultures cannot live.

If you don't know an indigenous Australian language, learn one.
(People with no indigenous Australian family may learn the language of
the area with which they have the strongest ties.) If you know an
indigenous Australian language, improve your grasp of it; literacy in
Australian languages is still rare.

Then speak it to the children. This is the noblest and worthiest cause
for an Australian patriot.