Anzac Legend

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“In 1915, when the Dardanelles campaign was launched, Colonel Mustafa Kemal became a national hero by winning successive victories and finally repelling the invaders. In our schools, in each class we have his photo to remember our hero.”

Sent by a Turkish primary class

“You have helped us understand the Turkish side to World War One, which we had no idea about. We learned how the Ottoman Empire shrank to being the size of Turkey. We learned how the Turkish people really want to remember the men and women who died in the war fighting for their country, and we also learned about Mustafa Kemal becoming president of the republic and creating a new political system and giving power to women. We are proud that Turkey and Australia are now such good friends.”

My students’ response to Turkey

Year 9 Reflections 2012

We have worked with people worldwideWe have seen different points of viewWe have seen what other countries think about historyWe have thought about stuff differentlyWe have found unseen truthsWe have learned about both sides and views of warsWe have gone beyond the textbookWe have made global connectionsWe have learned about how we glorify Australian soldiersWe have learned that we only study history from an Australian point of viewThe Anzacs might not have been the legends that history makes outWe have looked at different perspectivesThe Anzacs were not perfect

“I have definitely learned a lot about the other countries that the participants of this project are from. Through the text and pictures that others have shared, the stereotypes that I previously had of certain countries were broken. I have also learned a lot about how the world is all connected. Whether or not we are aware of it, our actions can affect other people on the other side of the world. This project really highlights that, and I have definitely gained new insight on how we are all part of a global community.”

(Out of Eden student post)

Where to Start?

ePals Global CommunityiEARNSkype in the ClassroomTakingITGlobalGlobalEdConFlat Classroom ProjectOut of Eden Learn

“How easy it is to dehumanise one’s adversaries when you peer at them through the lens of a drone, rather than work beside them in some common endeavour. And consider how many of our problems today are problems that cross national boundaries, and how easy it would be to share the burden and excitement of problem-solving as well.”

Jeffrey Sachs