|
Discussion Questions
1. Aboriginal customs maintained that only men
could play the Didgeridoo.
a. Do you think this was appropriate?
b. After being a custom for thousands of
years, should this change? Do you think that today girls should be
able to play the didgeridoo if they want to?
2. List the names given to people in AUSTRALIAN FOLKLORE i.e.
Dreamtime Creatures, Convicts,
Shearers, Swagmen, Diggers, Bushrangers.
a. Are these names still used to? If so where?
If not, why not? Now days is there another name given to people who
do the same or similar things?
3. Apart from those mentioned in the show (Diggers, Bush fire
fighters, Surf Lifesavers)
which people in Australia today still exemplify or display true
Australian
characteristics?
5 .Some of the songs in AUSTRALIAN FOLKLORE were around many
years ago
and sung around the campfire, for an evenings entertainment.
What would you do in the evening for entertainment without the T.V. Radio or
Computer? This discussion can go on for sometime, if you keep
taking options away as they are suggested (what if there are no DVDs, What if
there are no TVs etc). The idea is to make students aware of all those
things not available to children living in the eighteen hundreds. Take
them back to a homestead a mile (one and a half kilometres) from the nearest
neighbour, no electricity, no water on tap (so water drawn from a well or the
creek). Remember that in summer kids would probably be playing outside
until bedtime. Be mindful of prompting students to think of all the
possible positives, horse riding, fishing, tree houses.
6. Investigate when things were invented and draw a
timeline. Below the line note when things were invented and above the line
put parents, grand parents, great grand parents etc. to give students an idea of
what their ancestors had and didn't have. This Web site is a good place to
start.
www.ideafinder.com/history/timeline/the1800s.htm
7. The Swaggie in "Waltzing Matilda" stole
a sheep so he wouldn't
starve. Do you think it's right for poor people to steal to survive?
The following rules for teachers are more for the amusement of teachers
but I sure the older grades would also find them fascinating.
Rules for teachers
in the 1800's ~ "Part of Historical display at Halls Gap
Victoria"
1. Each day teacher will fill lamps and clean chimney before beginning work
2.
Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day's
session
3.
Back your pens carefully
4.
You may whittle the nibs to the individual taste of the children
5.
After ten hours in school, you may spend the remaining time reading the bible or
other good books.
6.
Male teachers may take one evening per week for courting proposes or two evenings
to attend church regularly
7. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
8.
Every teacher should lay aside, from each pay, a goodly some for his benefit
during his declining years, so that he will not become a burden to society.
9. Any teacher who smokes, uses licker in any form, frequents pool or public
halls or gets shaved in barber shops will give good reason to suspect his worth,
intention, integrity, and honestly.
Rules for female teachers 1915 ~ "Part of Historical display
at Halls Gap Victoria"
1. Will not marry during the term of your contract
2. You are not to keep company with men.
3. You must be home between the hours of 8pm and 6am unless attending a school
function
4. You may not loiter down town in ice-cream parlours
5. You may not travel beyond the city limits with out the permission of the
chair man of the board.
6. You may not ride in a carriage or auto mobile with any man unless he is you
father or brother.
7. You may not smoke cigarettes.
8. You may not dress in bright colours
9. You may under no circumstances dye your hair
10. You must wear at least two petticoats and your dresses must not be shorter
than two inches above the ankle.
11. To keep the school clean you must:
a. Sweep the floor a least once daily
b. Scrub the floor with hot soapy water at least once weekly
c. Clean the blackboard at least once a day
d. Start the fire at 7:00am so that the room will be warm by
8:00am.
|