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You can find previous Brain Dumps here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21. Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29.

So, as I had mentioned previously, my two topics for coursework study this Trimester are Aboriginal Education and Secondary (Year 11-12) Maths. Honestly, I'm finding both topics a touch underwhelming after a month of study.... part of that could also be due to the fact that I'm a touch short on time... but honestly, I the Maths one is terribly dull and the lectures generally involve the lecturer reading the PowerPoint out loud for us. Plus, pretty much everything in the coursework for the Maths course has covered subjects and concepts that were already covered in other courses... only done worse this time. So, I'm starting to get a little bit irritated by that particular course and lecturer!

The Aboriginal Education one is much more interesting from that perspective. I have had very little interaction with Aboriginal communities and people, and my study of history in general has been pretty slim. So, I am constantly learning new things which is definitely something that I LOVE doing!

However, as much as I'm sympathetic and interested in the historical struggles and wrongs that Aboriginal people have suffered since the colonisation of Australia... I'm not completely clear about what the path forward is. After some lectures by guest lecturers... I'm not entirely sure that anyone is. It is a case of most people agreeing that there were historical problems that have led to current problems and inequity... but there doesn't seem to be any good way to fix that. It appears to me that many fixes lie at the extreme of do nothing/no problem... through to do something that makes us feel good, but has little substantial effect and possibly increases opposition to change as an unintended consequence.

To be sure, it is a thorny question... as there were historical wrongs and there is current inequity born from that... but it is also impossible to reset everything over 200 years later. So, needless to say, there is entrenched fear of change to those who feel like that they have much to lose from repatriation/reconciliation who have benefitted indirectly from the past 200 years. Even though I am sympathetic to the cause... it isn't one that really drives me (I am more concerned about current inequity and how to prevent that getting worse), and I would be lying if I said that I didn't also feel a little worried about what change would look like!

Anyway, for my first assignment for the course... I had to write a self-reflection on what I learnt in the first month or so study in the course. As I've come to expect from humanities courses... no one seems to know what the hell is being asked of us, the assignment descriptions were fluffy at best and subject to a range of interpretations from students and markers! I know that is more academically "trendy" to not prescribe too much... but there are certain things that need to be tighter and prescribed. Perhaps that is the Science/Maths student in me... if the universe disagrees with you, the universe disagrees with you!

I can't tell you how much I HATE writing self-reflections. I know that it is an important part of learning and all of that... but as a musician, I am constantly self assessing, reflecting and adapting. I just don't feel the need to lay it out on paper and tell other people about it... and that sort of brings me to something about Australia that has irritated me a little bit... there is too much @$#%@^%$@%$ discussion. Honestly, I remembered a place where we just got stuff done... efficiently and without fuss... now (and perhaps this is old cranky man me talking), it appears to be just as important (if not more important) to SHOW and TELL others what we will and have done!

... honestly, I thought that the Americans were the marketers... and Australians were the Quiet achievers... that used to be a thing. I want that world back...

I can also be found cross-posting at:
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