When I was doing time at school, 62 - 73,the focus was on English history, which has been totally irrelevant to my life to this day, rather than Australian history. These days, with computers, all aspects of history are only a keystroke away, whether it is in the curriculum or not. I believe that the Japanese government is trying to surpress aspects of World War 2 in schools. Those kids are going find out eventually anyway once they get hold of a keyboard.

Dear Kenny,
some of us simply handball to other players....and the same game goes on, others like to shift the whole direction of the game, or change the game entirely :)

Stephen was speaking from an aparthied perspective, seeking to ensure 'whites' understand their 'black' history. I agree, this is a good thing, and it should lead us to the conclusion that a 'multicultural' approach to nation building is just a recipe for division, strife, and as Brushy showed 'discrimination and murder'.

I say.. lets change the game from 'us/them' to "us" why don't we ALL kick to the same goalposts of a new and vibrant Australia.

I guess ur just locked into your parochial partisan political mould :)
They should have sprayed silicone mould release on the mould before pouring in the epoxy mate

“Veni, vidi, vici” … “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Roman Consul Julius Caesar (47 BCE), according to Plutarch. England was also invaded by the Norseman French in 1066. Nomandy itself in 911. Australia was invaded in 1788. Apart from the 911 date, these histories are generally known and not buried.The history "is" known.

Teaching indigenous history is not a problem. History is history. But it should not be compulsory or used to leverage divisiveness.

Let us have some perspective please folks, Black Australians and White Australians are born tabla rose, history is the experience of forbearers. Pre-1788, history is valid, but it is no different than Anglo/Celts studying the Druits. All Aussies, Back and White, have clan histories, including indigenous Australian clans and indigenous (now migrant/invader) Anglo-Celtic clans. But we now live in the twenty-first century and we are in a federated country, our main attention should be towards the future.

My patrimonial ancestors come Rossyln (of De Vinci Code fame) in Scotland. In Tutor times, Cromwell had General Monk pretty tear-through and destroy Scottish villages. I know this history, but it would rather inappropriate to have this fact influence my views about the modern Englishpersons. It is time to move on.

Black, White. White, Black. It sounds like a colour chart. What about just Australian? We are all in a nation state not a fragmentation of clans. Clans are typically based around kin altruism; developed nation states, around mutualism. Scots and indigenous Australians can choose live in the here-and-now, or the past. The former live in this century, sociologically, but I suspect the latter might not. Being designated a “black” Australian makes, as about much sense, today, as being designed a “Druit” pom.

Stephen, your tend to contribute on one topic only, indigenous Aussies, what about street kids, police corruption or caring for the aged? If you have social conscience, why are your efforts so narrow?

TYPO: Tabla Rosa. We start with a blank slate. We learn our attitudes.

OLIVER ,I can not speak for Stephan but with having an Aboriginal family I can tell you that as a white man "this blackfella" won't be taking his foot off the cranky pedal until there is Social and Political Justice for our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
If we can get ever them on their feet when we look around next we will see that the other battlers will have had a hand up too.