Danielle,
i couldn't agree more that education i.e. insight is the only way forward. THE BIG PROBLEM is the education system as we have known it for the past 30 or so years. Teachers don't teach, they merely repeat something somebody else told them. everyone's getting educated but no-one learns anything. education for education's sake is what we have, not teaching & learning & more importantly comprehending. From my own observations, indigenous & practical people are not being listened too. We always hear of academic EXPERTS dreaming up some non-sensical, dribbling idea which is forced onto everyone. Then, as always, when it fails at great all round cost we get "Necessary Changes" which is still all run by the same bureaucrats as the previous failed scheme. Academics out of politics say I, you're just perpetuating incompetence & waste. Let real people run the show.

Individual,

I agree with what you say - there is much talk about the changes that are necessary in Education, but the views of those most concerned - the parents and the kids - are not being taken seriously.

A more holistic approach, one that involved parents and the community, is not unreasonable, nor would it entail the huge wads of money used by experts, committees, task forces etc. If elders and parents both in purely aboriginal and in all school communities, could be involved in the education process it would both raise self-esteem, make parents a part of the process and enrich the system.

Its a drum I've been beating for a long time so probably many know what I'm on about. And yep. Childless academics whose solutions depend on theoretical paradigms should not be given free reign to change the system.

Individual, I agree with you. On reading my grandchild's school report, I found three spelling mistakes from her teacher.

I am going to be the devil's advocate here. I see remote areas as a possible plus.

Last year I visited an area where there had been a community of 3,000 people living there
since time "immemorial" - their laws had been sophisticated. Males after reaching a certain age were not permitted to eat certain food stuffs. These were available only for children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly; other such laws had been practiced. Over the last hundred years, these people had "dwindled" to a handful - these survivors had been sent to Port Macquarie. The white population of township, on the place where these people had lived, is about 450 - it appears that this is the only number that can be sustained!

Cattle stations in remote areas are not disadvantaged, except for medical access.

An archaeologist friend employed indigenous people on a dig in Victoria. They were extremely enthusiastic. This research unearthed evidence that their forebears living there had a implemented a complicated system of fish farms. After a particularly hard day, she purchased beer from local pub (where the archaeological project was known) for their camp. On unpacking the carton she was appalled to see that it had been filled with selections of the most expensive brands available. Her assistants told her that this was normal practice whenever indigenous people purchased beer. In another area, the white shopkeeper "held" govenment payments against which indigenous people purchased their necessities. Again, they were being exploited.

cont ...

I am not saying that this is typical of the white community. Unfortunately, there are always those who will take advantage of a situation; like white miners entering communities for sex, even with underage girls. These people are parasites - and they contribute enormously to problems. If I were in such a community experiencing this, then had white "paternalists" trying to direct my "existence", I would be "bloody pissed off" too.

A truism: "If you can't help, then you are part of the problem".

Remove those committing child abuse; and other factors seen by the communities, themselves, as contributing problems. Then ask these communities how we can help. I guarantee that they will want the best for their children - education, etc

Mr Rudd's apology is a joke while he and others fail to deal with the abuse (in the name of culture) today. The article by Lara Wieland who worked as a doctor at Cape York says it all. She writes in todays Australian
'I have been frustrated to the point of pain at times over the unwillingness in these communities to face the problems and a tendency to smack down those who try. I could not fathom the possibility that so many people in a community would "not care" about their children. The dysfunction has become so deep that many people do not even realise the damage that is being done to their young people.

They hardly bat an eyelid at events that would make your stomach churn. A young mother in a drunken state beats her young child with a stick and screams that she is going to kill him. The next day, that same mother, sober, hugs her child and does not even think about the lasting emotional scars. Why would she when her mother did the same to her, and her neighbours do the same, and no one has ever told her that it is wrong?

Children who have had sexually transmitted diseases and have been raped and molested are now parents. No one ever helped them or told them that what happened to them was wrong or not normal. Today's teenage parents grew up in homes with hardly any furniture or toilet paper or soap or toothpaste.

They don't know what it means to make your child wash with soap in the shower or brush their teeth at night. They eat meals that materialise - if they're lucky - occasionally around pay day.'

Our bigger failure is not to save these kids.

Dear Foxy,
My “he” was referring to your star witness –let me quote you:
“Professor Colin Tatz, (formerly Professor of politics at Sydney's Macquarie University, where he established one of only three academic centres in the world devoted to genocide studies)”

And as for “If you can offer better solutions”:
Your initial post seemed to be about 90% hit whitey, and 10% “offer(ing) better solutions “.(Nothing personal –perhaps it was just my skewed reading!)

As I said before, I have serious doubts that classifications like black/white /Aboriginal are constructive – all we need is one – ‘Australians’ .
And one of the biggest obstacles to improving the lot of some Australians on the lowest rungs whether black, white or brindle, are often intermediaries who seek to exploit differences for ideological or personal-career advantage.

Romany & Daneille above, are coming up with some sensible suggestions –have a read.

And have a nice day –catch you next time.
Cheers!