tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post2718225165042235873..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: The importance of international law - a noteJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-39276365179988621092009-03-18T06:04:00.000+11:002009-03-18T06:04:00.000+11:00Thanks Thomas. That's exactly what I wanted to tes...Thanks Thomas. That's exactly what I wanted to test. <BR/><BR/>When I did history at school we only did a little on the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then really in an earlier context of the settlement after the Napoleonic Wars. As you put it, Archduke Franz Ferdinand just appears and gets shot. From an Australian perspective, this really left open the question as to how the death of such an apparently insignificant figure could set in train a series of events leading to war. <BR/><BR/>Then, at the end of the war, the break-up of A-H is really just mentioned. <BR/><BR/>So while many things may have changed about school history classes in NSW over forty or so years, the focus still appears to be the same.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-4922711016058028582009-03-17T21:28:00.000+11:002009-03-17T21:28:00.000+11:00In high school I suspect a teacher with intent to ...In high school I suspect a teacher with intent to educate students on Austro-Hungary would be able to incorporate it into the preliminary syllabus in the final section (designed to prepare students for the HSC content) called 'The World at the Turn of the 20th Century'. But it isn't mandated.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, Archduke Franz Ferdinand just appears and gets assinated in year 9 history, starting the WWI. And when the Axis loses the war, you find out that the Austro-Hungarian empire gets broken up. That's everything about that.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415055161213548744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-78240122008038752092009-03-17T20:43:00.000+11:002009-03-17T20:43:00.000+11:00Interesting comment, Thomas, because it reveals su...Interesting comment, Thomas, because it reveals subtle differences. <BR/><BR/>I did a lot of history at school. It was a compulsory full year unit in the A stream in years 7-9. The first major essay I did was on the causes of the First War. I got 100%, the only time I have ever managed this.Then I did Modern History for the leaving.<BR/><BR/>In all this, we did a lot of Euopean nineteenth and twentieth century. I also read things like Mein Kampf. <BR/><BR/>I suppose that I am really talking about differences in focus.<BR/><BR/>Here's a test for you in terms of the current curriculum. How much is taught on the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its collpase?Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-28287720769633304852009-03-17T19:02:00.000+11:002009-03-17T19:02:00.000+11:00I was surprised to read this Jim. It's an extremel...I was surprised to read this Jim. It's an extremely starck difference to what constitutes history now in high school. Even going to the end of year 10 you are provided we a basic knowledge of why Hitler rose to power with the collapse of Germany. And Modern History, there's a whole component about it which something like 83% of all students end up doing for the HSC.<BR/><BR/>And, depending how it's taught, the Allies from WWI are not absolved of having a hand in bringing about WWII due to the Treaty of Versailles.<BR/><BR/>How things change, eh?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415055161213548744noreply@blogger.com