Blog post 2

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are uncovering more about Civics and Citizenship. Students have shown great enthusiasm and have developed a creative and individual conception about their role in our community. I am so pleased to see students wanting to ask questions and further their understanding. Our next unit of work is understanding Citizenship in relation to History, this can be an intense and emotional topic and I strive to ensure that I provide my class with as much support and understanding as possible, whilst creating a safe learning environment.



What are the purposes of learning about Citizenship in relation to History?

Appreciating our history, and how it has been changed to shape our identify to form what is now Australia. Students are able to learn about the sensitivity behind the colonization and become emotionally connected with the past to uncover how far we have come as a nation. Learning the truth about the past helps to better understand the present and “contribute to preferred futures, local, nationally and globally” (Effective practice in Civics and Citizenship Education, 2009). It's important for children to learn about Citizenship through the context of History as it contributes to active involvement in the local community (Marsh, Clark & Pittaway, 2014).



How are they learning?

By the end of the unit, students will have developed an understanding and explanation around how and why life changed identifying what remained the same. Being able to describe the experiences of an individual or group in the past. Developing an understanding of the nature of the contact between the Europeans and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (ACARA, 2019)


            Your child will become a top secret agent for the day at Queen Victoria Art Museum. They are going to uncover many truths. You can’t know much more about the mission, but you may ask them when they return.


What's Next?

We will be visiting some local Aboriginal community groups and we will have an open discussion about what has happened in Australian history and how it has shaped what Australia has become. As the unit is such an intense, personal and mournful topic for certain families it is important to listen and share. Linking history with students will allow for them to meaningfully engage and empathise, understanding and closely connecting with why the removal of children and the contact between Aboriginal People and Europeans was such a strange, uncomfortable and heartbreaking event in Australian history. 

It’s important to highlight matters but ensure that there isn’t any guilt or misconceptions. Students are able to empathise and see how history has shaped Australia today allowing them to connect with history and make informed and educated decisions, shaping their sense of identity. Creating informed and active citizens. Similarly, I will ensure to highlight that the discoveries found are all perspectives and opinions made by whoever wrote it, and thus, there are many contradicting views. As it's a culturally sensitive topic, allowing students to express emotions and feelings is really important, creating a comfortable safe environment that is non-judgemental and is open-minded.


How can you help?

 I understand that uncovering history is a sensitive topic and is something that caused many families grief and loss, therefore I welcome any parents to come in and speak to the class about their history. I invite parents to come and join our visits to the local community as it will be extremely informative.


Changes around the home that have been developed since you were a child 

Advantages

Disadvantages

Thoughts on History


Kind Regards,


Miss Maskell
References

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA]. (2019).  Foundation to year  10 Curriculum: Humanities & Social Sciences (ACHASSK093). Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/humanities-and-social-sciences/hass/curriculum/f-10?y=4&s=CNC&c=1&c=2&c=3&c=4&c=5&c=7&c=6&p=1&p=2&p=3&layout=1


Marsh, C., Clark, M., & Pittaway, S., (2014). Marsh’s becoming a teacher (6th ed.).Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson, Australia. 


Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). (2008). Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians. Melbourne, Victoria: MCEETYA.  Retrieved from http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf
Images 

 Pixabay, Creative Commons, Attribution not required

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