Aussie students resent 'guilt' in history classes

High school students resent being made to feel guilty during their study of Australia's indigenous past and dislike studying national history in general.

The History Teachers Association called yesterday for a rethink of the type of Australian history being taught in schools and the way in which it is taught.

History Teachers Association of [New South Wales] executive officer Louise Zarmati said..."This is a somewhat delicate subject but they don't like the indigenous part of Australian history"...

"The feedback I get is they're not prepared to wear the guilt. They find it's something that's too personal, too much of a personal confrontation for them. I think it sparks a lot of racism; it certainly did in my classroom. It makes it an unpleasant learning experience."

Australia's indigenous history has been a contentious issue in the ongoing "history wars" over the interpretation of European colonisation.