Humanities Update

In Year 9 Humanities this term we have been focusing on History and investigating the period from the Industrial Revolution in England, which paved the way for the colonisation through to mid-20th Century Australia. In order to blend with the Civics & Citizenship curriculum, we have also been looking at how key events impacted national identity and values. 

Students enjoyed learning about life during the Industrial Revolution England, the living conditions and in particular the use of children in factories and mills which was not only for little money but also extremely dangerous. Perhaps even gaining some perspective comparing their lives to the poor children living in Industrial Britain, who started work as young as five years old and were subject to horrible treatment. Yeah for school with lovely kind teachers!

They were able to see the consequences of a growing poor population in England creating more crime and leading onto an overcrowding of jails, requiring a solution. What would be a better solution to crowded jails but to transport these criminals to a distant mysterious land and establish a penal colony?!

Whilst this may have been a solution for the Great British Empire, it had devastating effects on the first peoples of our nation. Students have developed empathy for Indigenous Australians by learning more about their displacement and brutal treatment from early colonial times, through to hearing the stories of the Stolen Generation and the fight to gain citizenship. We acknowledge the wrongdoings of the past and hope EMC students will pave the way for better understanding of the indigenous experiences and perspectives.

Students also studied the Gold Rush, Federation and the introduction of legislation that formed the basis of the White Australia Policy. Whilst delving into these events they explored what life was like at the start of the 20th Century, which groups were able to prosper and progress, whilst others faced hardship and social discrimination. 

Students are currently working on a research GAT about an event of their choice and will apply the historical skills taught such as asking questions and conducting research, chronologically sequencing events and analysing sources.