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Westernised Form Of Education In No Sugar By Jack Davis

817 Words4 Pages

Education is acquiring a form of understanding and knowledge. Literary texts often depict the notion of the educated and uneducated as judgemental, favouring one over the other,which is evident in Jack Davis’ play No Sugar, written in 1985. Davis presents the plight of the First Australians during the 1930s and their ongoing struggle for survival and social identity during the Great Depression in Western Australia. The dominance of the western institutionalised form of education, means that the intelligence of Indigenous Australians is often undermined. The character of A.O Neville is the epitome of the judging of individuals through societal stereotypes and entrenched prejudices towards Aboriginals. Davis’ utilises characterisation to express …show more content…

Although learning about ideas, theories and concepts can classify a person as academic which in this text is portrayed by the white settlers, the Indigenous characters can also be perceived as educated culturally, practically and emotionally.Gran is portrayed as resourceful and show amazing strength to withstand adversity, as seen in her dialogue during stressful ration cuts “don’t worry we can use tjeerung brush I know where some still growin’” and the delivery of Mary’s baby “now I cut your cord and tie it...now cover it in ashes more better than Johnson's baby powder eh”.Gran’s dialogue demonstrates a calm, make-do attitude that adapts to the situation and does whatever is required of her. These skills have been embedded and reinforced within Aboriginal culture for generations, which have been learnt through socialisation and oral traditions of instructions, such as storytelling and singing as well as art forms. Educational techniques may differ from westernised curriculums, however both styles aim to promote the same key attributes via alternative methods. Alternative methods need to be recognised as educational in their own right. Jimmy exemplifies the intelligent, highly adaptive nature of Indigenous Australians who is forced to conform to cross-cultural demands. Jimmy is more adminant to stick to the ways of his culture as seen by the stage directions [he sharpens an axe, bush

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