but why can't we use something else to reward them for coming to school? after all, money is not the answer to everything. if they are just temptated by money all their life then they will most likely not learn that you can do things for people because you care and because it makes you feel good, not because your going to be payed. they should go to school because someone wants them to, and learn how it feels good when someone asks a favour of you and you complete that favour. i also agree with michael duffy on the job part, why not move to a city, there's more jobs.

1.in all this discussion not statistical data is offered about attendance and attrition rates at all. My point here is that there is variability (from community to community) and this is crucial to know in any major policy development and roll out.

2. Indigenous educators have long aimed for, and have continued to work towards, systemic change, whereby systems and schools deliver education that is meaningful to all students, addresses their backgrounds and experiences, and meets their needs and aspirations while ensuring that they acquire the knowledge and skills to pursue their individual goals.

3.Such decisions must belong to the relevant parents, students and communities; and educators, education administrators, policy-makers need to listen to, and engage with, communities during every step of the process. No scheme (such as giving money)should not be based on compulsion.

3[a*]It seems a pity that many posters here appear to have also missed out on a comprehensive education (ie, learning Aboriginal history, recent and past)

I forgot to add, Michael Duffy is god.

Rainier wrote:

Indigenous educators have long aimed for, and have continued to work towards, systemic change, whereby systems and schools deliver education that is meaningful to all students, addresses their backgrounds and experiences, and meets their needs and aspirations while ensuring that they acquire the knowledge and skills to pursue their individual goals.

Thed problem is, Rainier, that 'their individual goals' may be for some people to the overall society's detriment.

All the talk about individuality in education forgets that education is intended, apart from the individual good, to produce people who can contribute to the wider society.

Moving from the Aboriginal context to another group, a friend of mine taught for a time in a school in South West Sydney with a large population of students from Lebanese backgrounds. These students didn't want to be their either, there was nothing that education could contribute to many of them achieving their 'individual goals'. Hence many did not complete school either. Paying that group to attend may have resulted in more days at school, but would alos have resulted in more detrimental outcomes for their classmates.

2Deadly wrote - Having been victims of an illegal invasion and occupation they have been seen not be be able to look after their future (never know you mob might leave after a couple of 100 yrs just like India and other colonised countries). So, from day one they are called savages, told they have to become white, when that failed they are told, you are not entitled to your own country back nor the right (which every Australian has) to be compensated for the destruction of social order, language, knowledge, history and your mother (land).

Not by me. I don't disagree that it happened and I don't disagree that there was racism etc., But I refuse point blank to be held responsible for something I didn't do. My family heritage is Scottish and English both of those places have been invaded numerous times throughout history.

2Deadly wrote - Please note: Can a tree be part tree? No, Indigenous, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Koori or other terms please, using 'part' is insulting. Australians, mostly white, never have to justify their whiteness so why do we have justify our depth of blackness...

I'm not white, I'm peaches and cream :-) I agree with that, one is either an aboriginal or they aren't. Which is my mind is a full blooded aboriginal not anything else. I could say that I'm half Scottish, half English but I'm not - I'm an Australian.

Why can't we all be Australians ? Why do people continue to divide us up into nice little sections of society ?

2Deadly wrote:
Hello,
People think us mob predominately live in the bush or isolated locations across the country.
Check the ABS website to learn that the majority of Indigenous people live in urban and regional areas.

I agree with that, indigenous people do and it is the people in the bush and isolated locations that miss out on the money to improve their lot in life because most of it is sucked up by the city dwellers.

Free Tafe courses (where I live anyway). Car loans at 3% interest. Aboriginal housing at ridiculously low rental rates.

The city dwellers aren't the ones who need it the most. ATSIC lined its own members pockets and forgot those who are in the most need of basic medical care, housing, sewerage etc.,

So what you have is the part Kooris taking away from the true Kooris. Not good in my eyes.