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We have maintained that a positive image for Aboriginal
people can be generated where the group is sufficiently large to
construct a society which can exist parallel to white society
in providing leadership.
Groups in tradition-oriented society have generated their
community schools to perpetuate their social structures.
The present suggestion is the reverse of this: namely that
independent community schools for Aborigines would generate
- structures allowing the building of Aboriginal groups within which
Aboriginal identity can be secured.
Further research,then,would be directed to isolating those
Aboriginal people wanting an independent school, working with
them to structure schools to suit their needs until such time
as there are.sufficient Aboriginal graduates to staff these schools
and be responsible themselves for interacting with their own people
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to determine policy and practice.
The need for Aboriginal graduates, so that policy decisions
can be made by Aboriginal people themselves, is of the utmost
importance.
As a matter of urgency, research should be directed to identifying
measures encouraging able students now in school^ from whom
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leadership can be expected, to proceed to tertiary education.
The need is to direct research to highlight those factors
which will make it possible for students with positive theorizing
to counter forces which negate this positive self-image as they
leave schools.
For these reasons, it is proposed to establish the following
research programmes.
(i) Research connected with the establishment of an Aboriginal
enclave group within an independent school.
It is proposed to establish, in 1984 an intervention programme
within an established Independent school, in the form of an enclave
group for able Aboriginal students intending to go on to tertiary
education in some form.