what needs to be taught and how

[Shula]

Hi, all,
thank you Orit for your comment of May 31st - as you have pointed out responding to an event is not the same as teaching/learning about it systematically, though events need to be responded to as well.
I am attaching ch 11 by Harms, Clark and Whyte which in my view gives a very useful account of how have Australian social work educators attempted to analyse and respond to the need to teach/educate/learn how to work with indigenous people. The section from p. 14 onward is of particular relevance to us, as it highlights the multifaceted problematic issues for the indigenous community, indigenous students, non-indigenous educators and students. This anlaysis highlights the intensity of a rather long past for the present, the huge gap between social workers and their indigenous clients, issues of powerlessness for both sides, and the need to change the culture in whihcever setting one is.
The chapter also looks at what can be done in each setting - in college, in the filedwork placement. It raises the question whether the teaching on this topic should be within a specialist course or "blended" within a variety of courses, such as values, diversity, social work knowledge and skills. what can be the teaching resources and their value.
The authors do not think that Australian social work education has resolved this issue, which is an interesting statement given that it seems to me that we in the UK have hardly began to grapple with it..
I hope you all will read it and share with us your reflections on its relevance to what we are trying to do.
Best,
Shula

[Shula]

forgot to attach the chapter!!