On this page, teachers will feature outstanding work. For your writing to appear here, there will need to be evidence that you have investigated the topic in detail, rather than only including information from the BTN episode. Your writing will need to be well structured in paragraphs and will need to be free of spelling and punctuation errors.

School in the Outback

Originally, Australia had 250 different indigenous languages. Now, it has changed. What would you think if you had to learn another language at school for more than half of the day? I know that I would not understand what was going on. But in the outback, life is very different to what we are used to in Victoria.

They used to be taught in their native language (Warlpiri) and then it was translated to English. That would have been easier but then the Government decided to change it. Now, the children have to learn English for four hours a day and then at the end of the day they have only one hour of their native language! They live in Lajamanu which is about 900 kilometres from Darwin. Lajamanu is pretty isolated. Only about 800 people live in Lajamanu.

For the last 30 years, they learned two languages which is called “bilingual education”. They would learn their language and then the English translation would be introduced. But recently, the Government decided to change it. They made it essential for all the schools to learn English for the first four hours of the day and then one hour of their native language. Some of the Aboriginal elders and teachers were not happy. Why, because they worry that the children will not develop enough in their native language.

The Government say they haven’t banned the indigenous languages. They just want the children to have the same reading and writing skills in English as everyone else. For now, all the indigenous children will be learning under the new system.

By Michaela

SWINE FLU  by Hugh

Swine Flu is a Flu that you would have heard on the news a lot lately. This flu originated from pigs, next that pig caught the bird flu, which combined the two, finally the same pig caught the human flu, which combined the bird/pig/human flu’s creating the deadly Swine Flu!

This Flu’s outbreak started in Mexico City, obviously in Mexico. It started there because of all the livestock that farmers own. Next up the flu spread to America, followed by more countries. One of the reasons why the flu is so dangerous, is because we have not built up immunity for this flu. Schools and other big social events where lots of people gather are closed, people are suffering from this flu which is worldwide. 

The Flu has no confirmed cases in Australia, so currently we are fairly safe. They are also inserting thermal cameras in airports, and Kevin Rudd told us to “regularly wash hands with soap,” which is actually a really good tip. Some countries are reacting by killing all of the pigs in the country.

I think that those countries have got the wrong idea. I also think that our response is the right idea, and this time I think we are correct.

MUMMIES   by Will B

Egypt, when you think of Egypt you think of mummies. But lately there have been discoveries of other mummies on another continent, South America. In the country of Chile right in the Atacama desert a few hundred kilometres north of the capital Santiago. The dry conditions in the desert have killed the bacteria so the mummies are well preserved. There are some Australian archaeologists who have discovered the 8000 year old mummies. Unlike the Egyptian mummies who are 5000 years old.

The archaeologists have found the graves,houses and a few belongings of The Chinchoro people. The team are trying to investigate and uncover the graves of The Chinchoro people. To get this done the archaeologists have to race against time before thieves and grave robbers steal the gold and silver belongings.

The mummies were skinned and ripped of their organs and stuffed with leaves and bushes. They were wrapped in sticks and bark, and then buried in a wooden grave or simply buried in the dirt.

I thought Egyptian mummies were the oldest of all but now archaeologists have proven me wrong. They have found older mummies so that has changed my view.

Sri Lankan Cricketers Attacked

The Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Pakistan and Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were hospitalised. Captain Mahela Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Suranka Lakmal and Chaminda Vaas suffered lesser injuries and five police were killed. Some experts say that there could be no more international cricket in Pakistan.

Gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team on the way to the third day in the first test in Lahore. Not surprisingly the rest of the test series was abandoned. This is believed to be an organised terrorist attack. Several teams have recently refused to tour Pakistan due to security concerns and last year’s ICC Champions Trophy was postponed over similar worries. Sri Lanka were only in Pakistan after India had been barred by the Indian government from touring the country following the Mumbai terror attacks last November.

There have been suggestions that the terrorists came from Sri Lanka as there is fighting there between the Sinhalas and the Tamils. The Tamils are fighting for a separate state because they do not like the Sri Lankan government. The Pakistani government promises to find out who is behind this terrorist attack and bring them to justice. Pakitsan may not co-host the World Cup in 2011 for some countries believe it is too big a risk. Pakistan will still play cricket but not in their home country. However, they are due to play Australia soon but the game will be moved to a neutral country in the Middle East.

I am sure cricket will return to Pakistan one day and I hope the Sri Lankan cricket team will recover quickly.

Jarrad F

Sri Lankan Cricket Attack