A New Era in Tertiary Education

Extract

Aboriginal Studies at the Canberra College of Advanced Education has achieved a reputation as being one of the most favoured series of units available. Although it has immense popularity within Teacher Education, Aboriginal Studies also attracts a large number of students from other schools at the college. Its level of appeal is reflected in the content of the two units available. Unit I of the course aims at introducing students to a pre-contemporary understanding of the Aboriginal, his kinship, religion, habitat, livelihood, art, music and pre-history. Coincidentally, Unit 2 examines problems of Aboriginal-White contact in our society, its associated prejudices and cultural conflicts.

Why is it that such a large number of students are seeking enrolment in Aboriginal Studies? I think interest predominates all other motives. In my case, as an undergraduate, this course filled a chasm in my education: it introduced me to an in-depth cultural and social analysis of a race different from my own. The urge to learn more about the Aboriginal, his culture and contact with white society, overshadowed the usual ambition of ‘study to pass’.

It was this interest that generated an inner feeling of awareness for Aboriginal culture and a self-realization of my attitudes toward Aborigines. People I talked with had similar experiences, and it was agreed that this was a latent function of the course.