STATE education ministers are pushing back against a new national curriculum that all but demonises Western culture and its freedoms.
NSW and South Australian education ministers have joined with their federal counterpart Mr Alan Tudge to oppose the proposed curriculum, calling it “unimpressive” and “unscientific”.
- NSW, SA & Federal ministers reject "neo-Marxist" school curriculum review.
- Proposed curriculum is “starting down the path of critical race theory”.
- Curriculum Authority told to make significant alterations.
SA Education Minister John Gardner said he shared similar concerns as Mr Tudge regarding a push to ramp up indigenous studies – while significantly downgrading Western history and civilisation courses.
“It is important that in our desire to highlight Aboriginal history, stories and songlines that we don’t lose perspective on the historical and philosophical roots of our successful liberal democracy,” Mr Gardner said.
RISK
“No other structure of government in the world gives such freedom and agency to its people, and if we don’t give sufficient weight to our liberal democracy then we put those freedoms at risk,” he said.
“It’s impossible to please everyone and it’s tricky to get the balance right, but improvements in this area are important.”
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell announced last week she would reject the proposed national curriculum as it stood – saying NSW would go it alone if necessary.
As well as reigniting the history wars, the curriculum – which was proposed by the Kevin Rudd-created Australian Curriculum, Assessment & Reporting Authority – has also sparked debate over its “unscientific” approach to teaching methods.
It promotes constructivism theory, which promotes student-led inquiry in the classroom rather than explicit teacher-led instruction.
Ms Mitchell said she preferred evidence-based teaching practices over unproven new-age methods.
The proposed curriculum changes incorporate all the trendy catch-cries from fringe activist groups.
Western cultural studies are again set to take a back seat to “inter-culture inquiry”. Addressing so-called “rape culture” is on the agenda and will see lessons on “sexual consent”.
RACE-BASED
And, following the lead of Australian and US universities, the school curriculum authority is recommending increased focus on sustainability, race-based history and “direct action” – which is code for student activism.
Ancient history lessons will now focus on 60,000 years of Australia’s past (called “Deep Time History”) – and largely ignore world history. Important historical dates will no longer be required learning in Year 7.
High-profile businessman Warren Mundine said the proposed curriculum was “starting down the path of critical race theory”.
Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Cr Jacinta Price said schools were no longer about education but, instead, were about “indoctrination”.
While NSW Prisons & Counter Terrorism Minister Anthony Roberts described the proposal as “neo-Marxist rubbish”.
“History is history. To continue pushing this is the standard neo-Marxist rubbish that we see float up to the surface on a regular basis,” Mr Roberts said.
“It’s something that belongs in the old Soviet Union and not in a strong Western democracy such as Australia,” he said.PC
We never hear about the Early Christian history of Australia.
Early Australian Christians built this country, however their history is now being bleach cleaned by the Teachers Union, Education Board and their Marxist comrades.
These same Comrades are preparing the path for Critical race theory, to split and divide our already deeply fractured society called “Holiday Inn Australia”