THE AUSTRALIAN Fossil and Mineral Museum, in conjunction with author Paul Stafford, have co-ordinated a program to teach school students about the history of Bathurst.
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In preparation for Bathurst’s bicentenary celebrations next year, the program will use video conferencing to share Bathurst’s history with schools across the state.
The pilot program for primary school students started this week, while the program for high school students will be rolled out next term.
The three-week history module for primary school students, run by public programs officer Penny Packham and Mr Stafford, is being delivered to Deniliquin North Public School, Weethalle Public School, Blighty Public School and Edward Public School.
“The first session starts in 1814, each school is assigned a role, they will either be the free settlers, the indigenous people, the soldiers or the convicts,” she said.
“They will get a workbook in class and learn about the lifestyle they would have had over video conferencing.”
Ms Packham said two following sessions would look at the Europeans’ arrival in Bathurst in 1815.
The program for high school students will be delivered by representatives from the Wiradjuri community, CSU Associate Professor of Political Science Dominic O’Sullivan and Australian history and politics lecturer Sam Malloy.
Mr Stafford, who will facilitate the high school program, is delighted to have so many experts on board.
“Students will be able to come to elders and the CSU staff and ask them the hard questions and get the facts,” he said.
Mr Stafford said the program would look at Australia’s first inland settlement and re-evaluate what happened and present it from all the different sides.
He said that once both the programs had been tested they would open up to schools in Bathurst and across the state.
“What happened in Bathurst set the template for the rest of Australia, so it’s important for students to learn,” he said.
“Our aim is to involve all local schools as this is their history.”
Mr Stafford noted that the exciting initiative was funded by the NAIDOC Public Awareness Program.
He said that video conferencing was a fantastic way to be able to connect with a whole range of schools at once.
He added that it was also a brilliant way to connect with isolated schools.
