Think arts degrees are useless? Let me change your mind
My daughter-in-law, proudly, has always said, 'I'm ever-so-slightly Chinese.' Her grandmother says something similar. But neither offers any details. Just a name. A Chinese bloke who came to Australia a long time ago.
When they say his name – and the location – I go on high alert. History! Finally, I'm useful to the family. Some families have an electrician (good in a crisis) or a plumber (even better). As it happens, I know a chap who's a chef (recommended!) and another who is a lawyer (so I know who to ring if I'm ever arrested.)
These folks are obviously useful, but is the same true of a retired radio announcer with a BA (Hons), awarded many decades ago by the history department of the University of Sydney?
My answer is 'yes'. When my daughter-in-law says, with a sigh of disappointment, 'I don't know anything about my Chinese ancestor', I find myself confidently answering. 'I'm sure I can find something.' I'm a trained historian. Well, sort of.
It's a tiny, personal illustration of what has become a matter of political contention. The previous government introduced a scheme to massively increase fees on degrees such as history. The idea was to encourage students to instead do 'job-ready' courses. It hasn't worked: very few additional people have signed up for the jobs being spruiked. Disappointingly, the Albanese government hasn't revoked the scheme, leaving students now paying up to $50,000 for an arts degree.
I'm enraged by this idea that an arts degree is an indulgence. Mine changed my life. In an era of constant technological change, isn't 'learning to learn' a skill of some utility? In an era of fake news, isn't the ability to sift evidence occasionally useful?
It's proof of the utility of history: these stories, so easily found, turn out to have so much to teach.
There are a million other arguments against the Job-ready Graduates package, but it may be more convincing if I give an example: the story of how I was able to tell my granddaughter, born a week ago, the real name of her Chinese great, great, great, great-grandfather.
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The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Think arts degrees are useless? Let me change your mind
I have a new grandchild, but don't worry. This column is not about her, although she is cute. It's about family history, HECS debts, a website called Trove, and how I'm pretty sure I'm Chinese. OK, not entirely Chinese. But I'm now a grandfather to two children who are a tiny bit Chinese. My daughter-in-law, proudly, has always said, 'I'm ever-so-slightly Chinese.' Her grandmother says something similar. But neither offers any details. Just a name. A Chinese bloke who came to Australia a long time ago. When they say his name – and the location – I go on high alert. History! Finally, I'm useful to the family. Some families have an electrician (good in a crisis) or a plumber (even better). As it happens, I know a chap who's a chef (recommended!) and another who is a lawyer (so I know who to ring if I'm ever arrested.) These folks are obviously useful, but is the same true of a retired radio announcer with a BA (Hons), awarded many decades ago by the history department of the University of Sydney? My answer is 'yes'. When my daughter-in-law says, with a sigh of disappointment, 'I don't know anything about my Chinese ancestor', I find myself confidently answering. 'I'm sure I can find something.' I'm a trained historian. Well, sort of. It's a tiny, personal illustration of what has become a matter of political contention. The previous government introduced a scheme to massively increase fees on degrees such as history. The idea was to encourage students to instead do 'job-ready' courses. It hasn't worked: very few additional people have signed up for the jobs being spruiked. Disappointingly, the Albanese government hasn't revoked the scheme, leaving students now paying up to $50,000 for an arts degree. I'm enraged by this idea that an arts degree is an indulgence. Mine changed my life. In an era of constant technological change, isn't 'learning to learn' a skill of some utility? In an era of fake news, isn't the ability to sift evidence occasionally useful? It's proof of the utility of history: these stories, so easily found, turn out to have so much to teach. There are a million other arguments against the Job-ready Graduates package, but it may be more convincing if I give an example: the story of how I was able to tell my granddaughter, born a week ago, the real name of her Chinese great, great, great, great-grandfather.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Think arts degrees are useless? Let me change your mind
I have a new grandchild, but don't worry. This column is not about her, although she is cute. It's about family history, HECS debts, a website called Trove, and how I'm pretty sure I'm Chinese. OK, not entirely Chinese. But I'm now a grandfather to two children who are a tiny bit Chinese. My daughter-in-law, proudly, has always said, 'I'm ever-so-slightly Chinese.' Her grandmother says something similar. But neither offers any details. Just a name. A Chinese bloke who came to Australia a long time ago. When they say his name – and the location – I go on high alert. History! Finally, I'm useful to the family. Some families have an electrician (good in a crisis) or a plumber (even better). As it happens, I know a chap who's a chef (recommended!) and another who is a lawyer (so I know who to ring if I'm ever arrested.) These folks are obviously useful, but is the same true of a retired radio announcer with a BA (Hons), awarded many decades ago by the history department of the University of Sydney? My answer is 'yes'. When my daughter-in-law says, with a sigh of disappointment, 'I don't know anything about my Chinese ancestor', I find myself confidently answering. 'I'm sure I can find something.' I'm a trained historian. Well, sort of. It's a tiny, personal illustration of what has become a matter of political contention. The previous government introduced a scheme to massively increase fees on degrees such as history. The idea was to encourage students to instead do 'job-ready' courses. It hasn't worked: very few additional people have signed up for the jobs being spruiked. Disappointingly, the Albanese government hasn't revoked the scheme, leaving students now paying up to $50,000 for an arts degree. I'm enraged by this idea that an arts degree is an indulgence. Mine changed my life. In an era of constant technological change, isn't 'learning to learn' a skill of some utility? In an era of fake news, isn't the ability to sift evidence occasionally useful? It's proof of the utility of history: these stories, so easily found, turn out to have so much to teach. There are a million other arguments against the Job-ready Graduates package, but it may be more convincing if I give an example: the story of how I was able to tell my granddaughter, born a week ago, the real name of her Chinese great, great, great, great-grandfather.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
World War II: 80 years since 'nightmares made real'
Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046
