Di's+comments+Yr+10+History

This is the only History I teach and I really love this period. 1. I have 2 main aims when teaching this- to develop in students a critical attitude to information so they don't accept official views without thinking about them and so they are constantly evaluating current events in the light of previous events. Secondly developing an empathy for people involved in the situatons so that they can judge why people do things and whether they would do the same. My overall thrust has been to use this period to inform students about their world and to encourage them to make links between what happened then and what is happening now. eg Vietnam/Iraq. Their general knowledge about the world and current affairs is abyssmal and I make them read newspapers.Films and novels help too. 2. I think there is too much time spent on Korean War and Cuban Missile Crisis- even the Vietnamese War although they enjoy this more. However, I think it is important tha they look at the Cold War so they can make links to attitudes now against Islamic countries- the new 'baddies'.They should be looking at McCarthyism and the paranoia about communism in the light of current events re the erosion of rights because of Fear of Terrorism. eg. Guantanamo Bay. From previous years I know they enjoy Civil Rights and Terrorism, but I think the latter needs to be more 9/11 based.This year we have put more emphasisi on the Australian response to these things which I think is vital. I would like to have more time to look at Africa, Refugees and the environmental problems and how we are responding to them. 3. The text books- I don't know why they have to buy these, can we buy them 2nd hand as a class set?- They are not overly helful and were expensive for students. 4.. Things that have worked: using song lyrics to illustrate info, Propaganda, the World map and Time line in my room which they constantly refer to- especially using the keywords and pictures as pointers.Also the newspaper articles on the back board generate lots of comments and speculation. They are starting to hypothesise using this info. 5. We definitely need more Asian content and world history rather than the present Eurocentric course. There also needs to be a greater emphasis on how different cultural attitudes affect behaviour and thus a more impartial look at how this applies to Australia's behaviour. 6 Overall I want them to develop a positive attirude about their power to improve their world and to see that individuals can create change. They need 'Heroes' 7. I love Ali's approach to Terrorism and the UN. I think the students would love it- problem with booking IT Rooms or Library.