Oral history in the history classroom - the past, the present, the opportunity

Imagination is often the spark that ignites the flame of historical passions. No doubt, many of us have imagined sitting on the Ionian Coast, listening to the ancient bards spin the tales of Achillies, Helen and Hector. Maybe it was hearing the sagas on a cold northern night or looking at the stars in the Kimberly as the Dreaming was told by our country's First Peoples. Wherever your imagination took you, one thread held present - the story. As Debra Hocking suggests, 'There's nothing more powerful than a personal story'. Such a statement holds especially true for teachers of the past trying to engage adolescents. Yet, for some, there remains some trepidation in using the oral testimony to craft the historical narrative in the classroom. This article seeks to give some background to the history of oral traditions, provide insight as to why it can bring depth to the classroom and share some of our experiences in telling the oft-forgotten narratives of Australia's past, those of our First Nations People.