Reconciliation : why we need to teach teachers to teach Aboriginal studies to all Australian students

Teaching Aboriginal Studies is about addressing reconciliation, political reformation, and the recognition of collective rights; in short it is about social justice. Dr. Alex Boraine Vice-President of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa stated at the Australian Reconciliation Convention: "Truth telling rejects denial and helps to come clean in order to build and to heal. It is not a mere romantic excursion into our past history; it is a deliberate attempt to come to terms with what happened and to be quite brutally honest about it. Not in order to stop there, but that we can begin to build on that kind of foundation, that healing can come to a very damaged country" (Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, 1997, p. 36). Teaching Aboriginal Studies to all Australians therefore can be seen as a vital element in aiding an understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Consequently, a first step in Australia achieving its stated aim of Reconciliation is appropriate core Aboriginal Studies subjects for preservice teachers in primary teacher education courses. This paper examines the notion of reconciliation, the concept of social justice, and why preservice teachers should have an understanding of the principles of reconciliation and the social benefits thereof for all Australian students.