Re: Australian Boat People Saga - lesson ideas

[Jenny Campbell <gaffcam@mira.net>]

Dear Barbara,
You are getting in to dangerous waters bringing this up as an off topic
discussion.
I think you might examine your own bias in this message.
Jenny

Barbara Braxton wrote:

>Dear Folks
>This may seem to be off-topic for this list, but I don't believe it is.
>
>Australia is apparently in your news bulletins because of the situation that
>arose last week when a Norwegian ship rescued about 450 people from a
>sinking boat in Indonesian waters, and after they threatened him with
>violence, the captain felt compelled to change course and sail towards
>Australia.
>
>>From the news excerpts that have been screened here about world reaction to
>Australia's refusal to let these illegal immigrants land. it would appear
>that we are being depicted as racist, unfeeling and a whole lot of
>not-so-nice adjectives.
>
>It would seem to me that this would provide a really good opportunity for
>your students to investigate "can you believe all you read/ see on
>television?" and in particular, the concepts of bias, selected editing, how
>things fit into the big picture and all those critical literacies that we
>try to encourage to help them be independent users and interpreters of
>information so they can make their own informed opinions and decisions.
>
>Given the nature of news bulletins and editorial influence wielded by the
>media owners, and the need to 'sell' the news bulletin because of the
>advertisers you cannot possibly get the full and true story but with
>investigation, your students could.  And it is a perfect example of using
>the Internet for research, not only to access our newspapers but also the
>latest statistics on our immigration, refugee numbers, and so forth as well
>as the requirements that Australia has for legal entry to this country.
>
>Some useful websites that you might use would be
>http://www.news.com.au/ which gives you access to most of the major daily
>newspapers
>http://www.smh.com.au/ - The Sydney Morning Herald
>http://www.theage.com.au/ The Age  - Melbourne's main daily
>http://www.f2.com.au/ - home page of the Fairfax group which is the other
>main media empire
>http://ninemsn.com.au/news/ - one of four major TV networks
>http://i7.com.au/Home - the second major channel
>http://www.abc.net.au - the government television channel
>(trying not to show any bias here)
>
>http://www.abs.gov.au - the Australian Bureau of Statistics
>http://www.immi.gov.au/ - the Department of Immigration
>http://www.dfat.gov.au/media/tampa.html the Department of Foreign Affairs
>and Trade
>
>>From there you could springboard off to investigate your own country's
>requirements and intake numbers and compare them to Australia's.  And after
>all that was done, you might like to debate "Is this was happening in  _____
>(and I know there are 62 countries on this list) how would you expect our
>government to respond?"  And because the kids have done the research, they
>could back their stance with information not emotions, hearsay and the need
>for sensationalism.
>
>Kia ora
>Barbara
>
>Barbara Braxton
>Teacher Librarian
>Palmerston District Primary School
>PALMERSTON ACT 2913
>AUSTRALIA
>
>T. 02 6205 7241
>F. 02 6205 7242
>E. barbara@austarmetro.com.au
>W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
>
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--
Cheers,
Jenny Campbell, unemployed teacher librarian
Melbourne,
Australia
http://www.knowledgecollegetutors.com
gaffcam@mira.net

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