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Nyungar Education in a South West Australian Location: A Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Terry Wooltorton
Terry Wooltorton*
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, Bunbury Campus, Western Australia
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Abstract

Assimilation of the Nyungar kids into the system takes place. Those who assimilate better, do better in school. Those who don't assimilate well, have problems with the system. (John, Primary School teacher, 6/8/93) (cited in Wooltorton, 1993)

According to this teacher, assimilation is inevitable, therefore the school should assist that process. This paper examines and presents a perspective on the extent and effect of assimilation and suggests that the negative outcomes of the education of Nyungars is a result of assimilationist teaching practices and school culture. Further, it recommends that Nyungar education be underpinned by Nyungar control of Nyungar education, which consists of the followingprinciples: Nyungar decision-makers, Nyungar teachers, Nyungar parent involvement in educational implementation and decision-making and culturally appropriate teaching methods and teaching spaces.

Type
Section C: Conference Reports
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , October 1997 , pp. 37 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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References

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