The History Wars … and You Michael Spurr History Teachers’ Association of Victoria

History Wars An Introduction An Introduction The Major Players The Major Players The Debates The Debates The Classroom and You The Classroom and You

An Introduction History as contested History as contested Historical interpretation Historical interpretation Politics and History Politics and History Reflects underlying assumptions and concerns about the nature of Australian history and society Reflects underlying assumptions and concerns about the nature of Australian history and society

An Introduction ‘History War’ as dominated discussion of particular topics in Australian History ‘History War’ as dominated discussion of particular topics in Australian History ‘Similar’ to other history national debates ‘Similar’ to other history national debates –US – Culture Wars  Smithsonian Museum Debate –German Historikerstreit Historian’s Dispute

The Flashpoints –Frontier History  Were there wars between European settlers and indigenous communities? –Aboriginal Genocide  Does Australia have a history of genocide? –Stolen Generations –Multiculturalism/White Australia Policy

The Frontlines The Frontlines The Frontlines –Politics –Press, Television –Journals and Periodical –Academic and non-Academic Publications –Museums –Education Policy

The Birth of Black Armband History –Professor Geoffrey Blainey, 1993  “Black armband” vs “Three Cheers” –“Three Cheers”  ‘Whig History’, positive development of a liberal democracy –Black armband  A history that recognises the unpalatable

The Major Players Paul Keating The Monthly and QE Robert Manne Henry Reynolds Lyndall Ryan

The Major Players John Howard The 'black armband' view of our history reflects a belief that most Australian history since 1788 has been little more than a disgraceful story of imperialism, exploitation, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. (John Howard Sir Robert Menzies Lecture). The 'black armband' view of our history reflects a belief that most Australian history since 1788 has been little more than a disgraceful story of imperialism, exploitation, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. (John Howard Sir Robert Menzies Lecture).John HowardJohn HowardQuadrant Geoffrey Blainey Keith Windschuttle Andrew Bolte

Frontier Wars Reynolds Reynolds –3,000 Europeans, 20,000 Aboriginal deaths in direct frontier violence –With Lyndall Ryan argues that a guerrilla war against Europeans in Tasmania Windschuttle, The Fabrication of Aboriginal History Windschuttle, The Fabrication of Aboriginal History –Rejects notion of guerrilla war, argues Ryan and Reynolds falsify/distort evidence, no frontier war Rebuttals: Manne (ed) Whitewash Rebuttals: Manne (ed) Whitewash –Plagiarism, manipulation of evidence

Stolen Generation Bringing Them Home: National Enquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders from their Families Bringing Them Home: National Enquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders from their Families Robert Manne, In Denial: The Stolen Generation and the Right, Melbourne, Robert Manne, In Denial: The Stolen Generation and the Right, Melbourne, Quadrant Quadrant

White Australia Policy Henry Reynolds North of Capricorn, The Untold Story of Australia's North, 2003 Henry Reynolds North of Capricorn, The Untold Story of Australia's North, 2003 –WAP had a negative impact on development of Northern Australia Keith Windschuttle The White Australia Policy, 2004 Keith Windschuttle The White Australia Policy, 2004 –WAP not informed by racism, based on social harmony

National Museum National Museum of Australia National Museum of Australia –Criticised: Windschuttle: "a repository of nothing more than the intellectual poverty of the tertiary-educated middle class of the post- Vietnam War era" that "panders to the same currently fashionable interest groups of women, ethnics and indigenes".

Further Reading

ON THE ‘HOME FRONT’ History in the Classroom History in the Classroom Matter of continuing attention Matter of continuing attention National Enquiry National Enquiry Australian History Summit Australian History Summit National Curriculum National Curriculum WHY MIGHT THE CLASSROOM MATTER IN SUCH DEBATES? WHY MIGHT THE CLASSROOM MATTER IN SUCH DEBATES?