<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K3L4M3" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">

Features Australia

Laying waste to our history

The Battle of Ideas will not be won by telling students what words they may or may not use

9 April 2016

9:00 AM

9 April 2016

9:00 AM

On the surface, the University of New South Wales banning the use of language deemed ‘offensive’ towards Indigenous Australians seems like the kind of well-meaning measure that’s hard to disagree with. After all, who doesn’t want to give the role of Indigenous Australians in our nation’s history the recognition it deserves?

However, by policing the words staff and students use to discuss a topic as broad and complex as Australia’s history, UNSW’s ‘diversity toolkit’ goes far beyond teaching respect for the story of Indigenous people in our past.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Easter flash sale:
10 issues for $1

Subscribe this Easter and get the next 10 issues of the magazine, plus website and app access, all for just $1.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to spectator.com.au and app
  • Spectator Australia podcasts and newsletters
  • Full access to spectator.co.uk
Or

Unlock 3 articles a month

REGISTER

John Slater is a freelance writer and regular contributor to The Spectator Australia

You might disagree with half of it, but you’ll enjoy reading all of it. Try your first month for free, then just $2 a week for the remainder of your first year.


Comments

Easter flash sale: 10 issues for $1

Join the conversation with other Spectator Australia readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Close