In the autobiography titled 'The Left-Hander', how did Oodgeroo's attitude to being left-handed differ from that of the education department?
In the autobiography titled 'The Left-Hander,' Oodgeroo's attitude towards being left-handed differed greatly from that of the education department.
Oodgeroo, also known as Kath Walker, saw being left-handed as a natural aspect of her being, something to be proud of and embraced. She describes how she was a left-hander from birth and found comfort and familiarity in using her left hand for various tasks. She considered it a part of her identity and didn't see anything wrong or abnormal about it.
On the other hand, the education department had a different perspective on left-handedness. They viewed it as a deficiency or a flaw that needed to be corrected. Oodgeroo recalls her experiences at school being forced to use her right hand instead of her natural left hand. The education department insisted that using the left hand was inappropriate and needed to be corrected through various means, including physically punishing left-handed students or tying their left hands to their sides to force them to use their right hands.
Oodgeroo's attitude towards being left-handed reflected a sense of pride and self-acceptance, while the education department's approach was one of ignorance and misguided attempts to conform to societal norms. The stark contrast between Oodgeroo's personal experience and the education department's perspective showcases the oppressive and discriminatory attitudes prevailing at that time towards left-handed individuals.